Historic Houston Restaurants

[gnu]

No, he's right. The original Leo's was on Shepherd between Welch and Fairview. The awning, as mentioned, that used to lead to the front door is still there. Leo's moved to Washington Ave after years and years of being on Shepherd. Now there is a car wash or a car detailing place there. I think the only thing they brought to the Washington location was the sign.

oops. i did not know that. cool.

any idea when they moved to washington?

[musicman]

I think you got the right restaurant but got mixed up on the location.

Leo's was just off washington a couple of blocks east of heights blvd.

It's where the "new" Heights Star Pizza location is.

gnu knew the "new" heights Star Pizza location was the old Leo's, not the car wash!!

[tmariar]

I thought of another...

Patrenella's on Jackson Hill, complete with bocce court and vegetable garden

[Vertigo58]

You have to go to Tel Wink extra early am to beat the huge crowds. Its so ironic that this place once stood across the street, burned and was rebuilt at present site. It was created as a truck drivers stop for a big chicken fried steak meal once word got out it became a neighborhood icon. The popularity waned for a while in the 80's-90's then suddenly remerged due to high prices at other local breakfast joints ie: Frank's Grill down the street. Strangely enough the owner makes so much $ yet the roof has numerous leaks and the parking lot well, still oyster shell not concrete and plenty of room for expansion? Well, eat and you'll be hooked.

[mkultra25]

You have to go to Tel Wink extra early am to beat the huge crowds. Its so ironic that this place once stood across the street, burned and was rebuilt at present site.

I did not know that!

[musicman]

You have to go to Tel Wink extra early am to beat the huge crowds. Its so ironic that this place once stood across the street, burned and was rebuilt at present site. It was created as a truck drivers stop for a big chicken fried steak meal once word got out it became a neighborhood icon. The popularity waned for a while in the 80's-90's then suddenly remerged due to high prices at other local breakfast joints ie: Frank's Grill down the street. Strangely enough the owner makes so much $ yet the roof has numerous leaks and the parking lot well, still oyster shell not concrete and plenty of room for expansion? Well, eat and you'll be hooked.

where across the street was it? This is the same place that was there in the 50's. when you say it was rebuilt at the present site what do you mean?

[TheNiche]

The popularity waned for a while in the 80's-90's then suddenly remerged due to high prices at other local breakfast joints ie: Frank's Grill down the street.

High prices at Frank's Grill??? Not that I've noticed.

[Heights2Bastrop]

Cajun Town Seafood Restaurant on Little York at Bingle. It has some of the best seafood in town, and at great prices. It

[EatSleepMOD]

I grew up in Pasadena; years ago there was a great fast food

place called "Burger Prince." They had the best burgers, onion rings

and malts. The old man that ran it sold it in the 80s and it

never was the same, needless to say it did not last long after that.

[thefensk]

We used to go to Leo's, and I remember the story of his riding with Villa. We also went to Old Mexico on Gray, Santa Anita downtown, and Felix on Westheimer. But, our favorite place was Del Rio on Shepherd near W. 26th. There is an electronics place there now.

Oh, man. Santa Anita. That was my grandmother's epitome of fine eating. I recall it as so-so, but it was pretty fancy ... at least to a kid in the 60s.

thefensk

[musicman]

Oh, man. Santa Anita. That was my grandmother's epitome of fine eating. I recall it as so-so, but it was pretty fancy ... at least to a kid in the 60s.

that's where my parents had their wedding reception in the 50's

[thefensk]

Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. I don't even know how many 'original' stores exist.

I also miss ZuZu, which was on Shepherd near Fairview. It was Mexican fast food and I remember a salsa bar or something... it was quaint with good food.

All of these posts got me to thinking ... there used to be a dingy dirty looking Chinese Restaurant on Elgin, around Smith or Louisiana or maybe even up as far as Milam or Travis ... heading East it was on the right.

For a long time it was the Tin-Tin but later I think it was changed to Blue Star.

I still always called it Tin-tin. It looked like a greasy spoon cafe, but they had just about the absolute best Egg Foo Yung in the world.

For that matter, that was from the time when most Chinese restaurants had Chinese AND American food.

I have fond memories of another place in Bellaire called The Mayflower ... wonderful food. I worked not far from there and ate lunch there a lot and they must have had six different lunch menus, with different specials every day of both Chinese and American lunches. You could eat there every day and go quite a while without repeating yourself and if you didn't want Chinese you could get chicken fried steak or roast beef.

[donnieyen]

I remember eating at Fuzzi(?) on Post Oak like back in the early 90s. Also, Uncle Thai's back then also. It was like 65 bucks for dinner when i tried it once back then. It was on Post Oak and Westheimer area.

[thefensk]

I have another vague memory of a place I only went to a couple of times on Westheimer close to Montrose,

something like The Treehouse (it also had a Spanish or Italian name but always added Treehouse as a translation) ... it was built on a really strange floorplan with huge tree trunks throughout giving the impression that it really was a treehouse.

Nice place to take a date as most of the tables were set into little alcoves and were very private.

There was another short lived place on Westheimer in the same strip center with the old Budget Tapes and Records; it was a small Greek cafe called Kojak's. Their back room was set up almost like a grotto with weird stalagtite stuff hanging from the ceiling.

Killer gyros at that place ... in fact I had never seen gryros on a menu before that place. A line drawing of Telly Savalas on the cover of the menu really added to the funky charm of the place. Today the litigation police would have swooped down on them within minutes of opening.

[Subdude]

I have another vague memory of a place I only went to a couple of times on Westheimer close to Montrose,

something like The Treehouse (it also had a Spanish or Italian name but always added Treehouse as a translation) ... it was built on a really strange floorplan with huge tree trunks throughout giving the impression that it really was a treehouse.

Nice place to take a date as most of the tables were set into little alcoves and were very private.

Was that Los Troncos restaurant?

[thefensk]

Was that Los Troncos restaurant?

Yes, I think you are absolutely correct ... Los Troncos (The Treehouse)

[thefensk]

For some reason this kindled a memory of a place called The Magic Mushroom but I don't have any specifics, just seem to remember the name.

[Mark F. Barnes]

Yes, I think you are absolutely correct ... Los Troncos (The Treehouse)

Los Troncos actualy translates to "The Trunks"

[thefensk]

There was one on Hillcroft near Robert E. Lee High School in the mid 70s also.

Wow. Not sure about HBG, but there was another fancy burger place on Hilcroft near Lee ... can't think of the name. There were phones on the tables and you "called in" your order.

On the whole HBG on Kirby thing ... the original poster had it right, there was one down toward West University, in fact it was IN West University. I remember this because a friend of mine managed it for a while and he was complaining to me that they had WEEKLY health inspections instead of monthly like in Houston. They had a full-time health inspector who didn't have enough restaurants to inspect I guess.

We both had previously worked at the kirby location of Rolando's Burger Factory, which was between Alabama and Westheimer. I was Rolando's original employee at that location and trained at his original original location on Richmond in a reformed coffee shop that was close to Woodhead between Woodhead and Dunlavy.

The Kirby location was originally a really lame Jack-in-the-Box copycat called The Pied Piper, which I remember because I helped him clean it out and got tired of the stupid Pied Piper logo on the zillions of bags and such we were throwing out. The place was filthy!

Over a period of many months Rolando took the shell of the building and rebuilt it, expanding the dining room and changing (some might say creating) the decor as he built the business.

I think this may have also been the location of a 50s era fried chicken place called The Chicken Shack. Pre-KFC, or pre-KFC restaurant I might say since originally Col Sanders was selling the KFC concept as an add-in. I remember some cafeteria downtown featured Kentucky Fried Chicken.

[mkultra25]

Yes, I think you are absolutely correct ... Los Troncos (The Treehouse)

A postcard with a picture of the interior of Los Troncos was posted earlier in this thread - scroll up to post #317 to see it.

[mikeybob2]

Wow. Not sure about HBG, but there was another fancy burger place on Hilcroft near Lee ... can't think of the name. There were phones on the tables and you "called in" your order.

I remember going to a burger place in the late 60's or early 70's where you phoned in your order from the table. It was called "Round the Corner". Your phone rang when your order was ready to be picked up. I think it was on Hillcroft...Food was great. I went to one in Denver a few years ago and I think they are still doing good business..

[Subdude]

A postcard with a picture of the interior of Los Troncos was posted earlier in this thread - scroll up to post #317 to see it.

Here's another interior picture, from an old Fuermann book.

[albertnurick]

Across the Street

I remember going to a burger place in the late 60's or early 70's where you phoned in your order from the table. It was called "Round the Corner". Your phone rang when your order was ready to be picked up. I think it was on Hillcroft...Food was great. I went to one in Denver a few years ago and I think they are still doing good business..

[roym]

Here's another interior picture, from an old Fuermann book.

Subdude, awesome photo - thanks!!

[Earlydays]

Subdude, awesome photo - thanks!!

It was quite a place...my wife and I ate there in the late '60's.

[Heights2Bastrop]

I remember some cafeteria downtown featured Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Not sure about that restaurant, but my first taste of KFC was in the late 50s, maybe early 60s at a place called the Bluegrass Inn. It was a nice, dine-in restaurant on Gray across from Capt. John's and the bakery (Mrs. Baird's?).

The fare was all-you-can-eat, and you had your choice of either fried chicken or fried shrimp. I am pretty sure the price was $1.99 for whichever you chose. I can

[Vertigo58]

There once was a King or should I say a nice little hamburger place on I think? Crosstimbers near Jensen Drive? all I know is it was en route to old Northline Mall many moons ago. When we were kids my mom would drive to Northline but on the way we always stopped here! This is the only place I know of where you could get 4 hamburgers for one dollar! This was around 1966. We won't see those type of deals for a long time. Anyhow the little eatery name was no doubt inspired by the success of this film. Wonder if Yul Brynner ever knew he inspired a hamburger restaurant name in Houston, Texas?

Edited May 22, 2007 by Vertigo58

[Francine]

I miss these restaurants:

1. Lee's Den - chinese - on Main Street. Very popular on Sunday nights.

2. The Silver House - Chinese - across from the downtown civic center, the George R. Brown. They had the best special noodle soup I've ever tasted. I've never had anything like it. Does anyone know where the chef went? Does any other restaurant have a similar soup?

3. Italian Sandwich Shop on Chimney Rock between Bissonnet & Beechnut in an old house. The best meatball sandwiches for under $2. Homemade pasta dishes. I've never had a meatball sandwich anywhere as good as theirs!

4. By the old Sakowitz close to the Galleria was Katz's restaurant with great ice cream.

5. I ate my first pizza at a pizza place (something like Spanky's) on Bellaire Blvd. across from the Bellaire Triange. I burned the top of my mouth, but I immediately fell in love with pizza.

6. The original diner where the 59 Diner is now located. Huge iced teas!

7. The Sabrett's hotdogs on Richmond in the strip center behind the Edward's movie theater & across the street from the old HISD main bldg. They had great hotdogs!

8. At Wesbury Square had a great lunch and ice cream place. Lots of kids had their birthday parties there. In the middle of Westbury Square was a large fountain.

9. Herbert's Ritz -- the best steaks ever and wonderful remalaude sauce -- prices were unbelievable -- I remember when I could get a steak dinner for approx. $7!

Here are some great places that are still open:

1. If you want a good old fashioned hamburger, try the Bellaire Broiler Burger -- it's hard to find but worth the trip.

2. I also enjoy the Telewink Restaurant -- a real diner! Great breakfasts & still cheap.

Old fashioned waitresses.

3. The Bellaire Breakfast Shop in the Bellaire Triangle (between Bissonnet & Bellaire & Chimney Rock & South Rice). Great prices.

4. Hank's ice cream on Main Street - close to Loop 610. Outstanding, homemade ice cream.

5. Hobbit Cafe - on Richmond between Richmond & Greenbriar.

[tony]

I miss these restaurants:

1. Lee's Den - chinese - on Main Street. Very popular on Sunday nights.

2. The Silver House - Chinese - across from the downtown civic center, the George R. Brown. They had the best special noodle soup I've ever tasted. I've never had anything like it. Does anyone know where the chef went? Does any other restaurant have a similar soup?

3. Italian Sandwich Shop on Chimney Rock between Bissonnet & Beechnut in an old house. The best meatball sandwiches for under $2. Homemade pasta dishes. I've never had a meatball sandwich anywhere as good as theirs!

4. By the old Sakowitz close to the Galleria was Katz's restaurant with great ice cream.

5. I ate my first pizza at a pizza place (something like Spanky's) on Bellaire Blvd. across from the Bellaire Triange. I burned the top of my mouth, but I immediately fell in love with pizza.

6. The original diner where the 59 Diner is now located. Huge iced teas!

7. The Sabrett's hotdogs on Richmond in the strip center behind the Edward's movie theater & across the street from the old HISD main bldg. They had great hotdogs!

8. At Wesbury Square had a great lunch and ice cream place. Lots of kids had their birthday parties there. In the middle of Westbury Square was a large fountain.

9. Herbert's Ritz -- the best steaks ever and wonderful remalaude sauce -- prices were unbelievable -- I remember when I could get a steak dinner for approx. $7!

Here are some great places that are still open:

1. If you want a good old fashioned hamburger, try the Bellaire Broiler Burger -- it's hard to find but worth the trip.

2. I also enjoy the Telewink Restaurant -- a real diner! Great breakfasts & still cheap.

Old fashioned waitresses.

3. The Bellaire Breakfast Shop in the Bellaire Triangle (between Bissonnet & Bellaire & Chimney Rock & South Rice). Great prices.

4. Hank's ice cream on Main Street - close to Loop 610. Outstanding, homemade ice cream.

5. Hobbit Cafe - on Richmond between Richmond & Greenbriar.

[tony]

I remember Miss Charlotte's (a very trendy restaurant for the time, not the gay bar) on Converse St., two blocks east of Montrose between Willard and Welsh, behind Anderson Fair Retail. It opened and closed in 1973. It was just down the street from a house (corner of Welsh and Converse) with damn-it dolls nailed to its side. A postman and his wife lived there and they had naked seances at night. Late one Saturday I backed into a driveway on Willard St. trying to turn around. I hit a huge Bonneville parked face-out in the driveway of this bungalow and put out one of the car's headlights. A man in jockey shorts comes out on his porch with a shotgun and demands I pay cash for a whole new front end to his car. I told him he'd have to deal with my Dad's insurance company and took off (we lived on Woodhead at the time.) The insurance company did some sort of search and found he had no insurance and the county picked up his car. I felt terrible about that but he got back at me by writing on my car with a nail--very embarrassing because this was before self-serve gasoline and every time I filled up the guy would come inform me that someone wrote on my car with a nail. My Dad sold that car and kicked my ass for being drunk.

We ate TexMex at El Patio on W. Gray (in the center of RO center) and I usually ordered their Nachos Grande. I remember eating at Lillian's, on Westheimer where Numbers is now. They sold crepes. There were several sidewalk restaurants on the Lower Strip and pedestrian traffic was always heavy, even during the week. I stayed with my grandma sometimes in the summer (she lived in an old white wooden two-story house on Westheimer where the parking lot for Numbers/La Strada is today.) I would sit on her front porch swing with my shirt off and try to hustle joints from the guys walking down the sidewalk between the restaurants. Il Padrido was on the corner in that block (where La Strada stands now). They had good pizza. Michaelangelo's, which was directly across the street, is the only restaurant left from that time period. Sorry for rambling, this took me back.

[terrbo]

I remember Miss Charlotte's (a very trendy restaurant for the time, not the gay bar) on Converse St., two blocks east of Montrose between Willard and Welsh, behind Anderson Fair Retail. It opened and closed in 1973. It was just down the street from a house (corner of Welsh and Converse) with damn-it dolls nailed to its side. A postman and his wife lived there and they had naked seances at night. Late one Saturday I backed into a driveway on Willard St. trying to turn around. I hit a huge Bonneville parked face-out in the driveway of this bungalow and put out one of the car's headlights. A man in jockey shorts comes out on his porch with a shotgun and demands I pay cash for a whole new front end to his car. I told him he'd have to deal with my Dad's insurance company and took off (we lived on Woodhead at the time.) The insurance company did some sort of search and found he had no insurance and the county picked up his car. I felt terrible about that but he got back at me by writing on my car with a nail--very embarrassing because this was before self-serve gasoline and every time I filled up the guy would come inform me that someone wrote on my car with a nail. My Dad sold that car and kicked my ass for being drunk.

We ate TexMex at El Patio on W. Gray (in the center of RO center) and I usually ordered their Nachos Grande. I remember eating at Lillian's, on Westheimer where Numbers is now. They sold crepes. There were several sidewalk restaurants on the Lower Strip and pedestrian traffic was always heavy, even during the week. I stayed with my grandma sometimes in the summer (she lived in an old white wooden two-story house on Westheimer where the parking lot for Numbers/La Strada is today.) I would sit on her front porch swing with my shirt off and try to hustle joints from the guys walking down the sidewalk between the restaurants. Il Padrido was on the corner in that block (where La Strada stands now). They had good pizza. Michaelangelo's, which was directly across the street, is the only restaurant left from that time period. Sorry for rambling, this took me back.

that wasn't the Pagan church on Welch you backed into was it? I it was on Welch?

anyone remember Ted from Theodore's club on Mason? He had a restaurant near Lillian's, etc. in this kinda strip center.. late 70's I believe?

[Subdude]

that wasn't the Pagan church on Welch you backed into was it? I it was on Welch?

First Pagan at 903 Welch.

[mikeybob2]

I remember going to a reataurant in the early 70's in Montrose somewhere east of Anderson Street Fair called "Ebenezer's". No one else I know remembers it but I remember eating there a lot. It was in the upstairs part of an old house on a corner and had a 40's theme.. The music was usually poor old dead Judy Garland and items on the menu had clever names like "Marilyn Monroe Cheese plate" . Does anyone else remember it?

[tony]

I remember going to a reataurant in the early 70's in Montrose somewhere east of Anderson Street Fair called "Ebenezer's". No one else I know remembers it but I remember eating there a lot. It was in the upstairs part of an old house on a corner and had a 40's theme.. The music was usually poor old dead Judy Garland and items on the menu had clever names like "Marilyn Monroe Cheese plate" . Does anyone else remember it?

[tony]

Maybe Miss Charlotte's was the wrong name. Ebenezer's rings a bell. The menu and upstairs part seem right. I'm sure it was on Converse.

I also remember the pagan church but it wasn't the place I backed in to or the postman's house with the damnit dolls nailed to the side. The damnit doll house could have been the parsonage, I guess. The two houses looked similar except it seems like the damnit doll house had only one floor.

[sboney]

Hi,

I just saw your post from over a year ago regarding Windswept Inn.... I remember that restaurant like it was yesterday... I grew up in Houston and we went there regularly back in the 70's... There was a skating rink next door to it.... ANy how, I believe that was Airline Drive that it was on....

That is where I first had Red Plum Jelly for the rolls... Do you remember them serving it in a little bowl with a spoon?

Do you remember the jukebox up against the wall by the front door?

The fried chicken had such a thick cruncghy batter on it.... and there was always more food to eat then people to eat it.... it was the BEST!!!! Oh the good ol days!!!!!!LOL

Shuckers is still open in the Galleria.

Does anyone recall the Windswept Inn? It was a home cooking/family style restaurant on a side street off of 45 North, south of BW 8 area. I remember going there as a kid in the mid 70's with my grandparents. They would bring huge (huge to a 5 year old) bowls of mashed potatoes, greens, beans, and platters of fried chicken and chicken fried steaks.

[Firebird65]

Hi,

I just saw your post from over a year ago regarding Windswept Inn.... I remember that restaurant like it was yesterday... I grew up in Houston and we went there regularly back in the 70's... There was a skating rink next door to it.... ANy how, I believe that was Airline Drive that it was on....

The Windswept Inn, formerly located at 10719 Airline (next to the Airline Skating Rink) opened in 1963. It originally was in the 13000 block of U.S. 75 (today's North Freeway) somewhere between Greens and Rankin Roads. Because of the dates involved, it would appear that it moved to Airline because of construction of the North Freeway. The restaurant closed sometime in the late 1990s and today the site is occupied by Tacos del Julio.

I grew up in the area, yet oddly enough, never went there. Guess I missed my chance.

[METALHOUSTON]

Shakey's Pizza at 6340 Westheimer, The Pot Pie Pizzeria at 1525 Westheimer, Vallone's at 2811 Kirby, The Pacesetter in the Galleria (where Bennigans is now), El Chico at 7707 South Main, Romano's cafeteria at 1725 Post Oak Blvd (It's now a Luby's), Spanky's Pizza in Astroworld, Shamrock Hilton (6900 South Main), Showbiz pizza Place at 5535 Weslayan, Sizzler 3909 Spencer Hwy and I could go on and on!

[Croberts]

Does anybody around here remember Las Casuelas? The greatest Mexican food restaurant in Houston history? In a big old house at the corner of Fulton and Quitman out in the barrio on the near north side? I think it was even better than the original Ninfa's on Navigation.

I have been trying to think of the name and location of this one for years. Seemed to be the center of Mexican culture in houston, especially late at night.

Another one I cant remember the name of was a place on Canal that served the best black bean refritos with huevos rancheros.

[Mark F. Barnes]

Guggenheim's that use to be over by the Galleria, made the best Ruben's in the world and had a great Cheesecake collection.

[isuredid]

Here is my working list of restaurants and clubs:

Famous Chicken House - Telephone Road

Old Munich Inn - Telephone Road

Old Hickory Stick - Telephone Road

Old Mexico - Gray

Foote's Cafeteria - in Bellaire

Galli Spaghetti House - Telephone Road

Mr. Sirloin - Telephone at 610

Liberty Hall - Red Beans and Rice

Valian's - both the restaurant on Main and the pizza place on Shepherd

Big Humprey's Pizza - Belfort

Italian Beef House - Telephone under the Coca Cola sign

Samperi's - Telephone Road

Ray Hay's Broiler Burger - Telephone at Dumble

Leo's Mexican - 2203 S. Shepherd

The Whistle Stop Bar-b-que - Old Galveston Road

The Cellar Door Bar-b-que - two locations

Cardet's Cafe (Cuban) - 1927 Fairview

The Hoagie Shop - 3507 S. Shepherd

Zorba's - 202 Tuam

Alfred's - On Rice and Stella Link

Marini's Empanda House - Westheimer

Swiss Haus - In the Village

The Village Cheese Shop - In the Village

Captain Benny's - in the boat at Greenbriar and Main

Sonny Look's - on Main

The Hobbit Hole - 1715 S. Shepherd

St. Michel - 2150 Richmond

Prufrock's Tavern - 423 Westheimer

Joseph's Wine Shop - 1408 Westheimer

The Chicago Pizza Company - 4100 Mandell

Chaucer's - 5020 Montrose

Cody's (really a jazz club) - 3400 Montrose

Mrs. Me's Cafe - Dunlavy at Indiana

La Bodega - 2402 Mandell

Weinerschnitzel - Westheimer at Commonwealth

Spud-U-Like - 416 Westheimer

Butera's - 5019 Montrose and the Grocery Store on Bissonet

Matt Garner's Bar-b-que - Gray (Good as it ever was)

Las Brisas - 614 W. Gray

Captain John's - W. Gray at Woodhead

Gantry's - 1658 Westheimer (now Marks)

The Wine Press - W. Gray

Renu's - 1230 Westheimer

Mana Eleni - 1115 Missouri

U.S. Bar & Grill - 1220 Taft

Quasimodo's Sanctuary - 1985 Welch (now Mockingbird)

Metropol - 1007 Waugh

Missouri Street Cafe - 1117 Missouri

River Cafe - 3615 Montrose

Albritton's Cafeteria - Waugh

Glatzmaier's - Old Market Square

Landry's Seafood - 2912 S. Shepherd

The Stables - S. Main at Greenbriar

Edited August 9, 2007 by isuredid

[djrage]

Isn't the burger joint that the kids in the movie " Dazed and Confused" are hanging out at a "Steak and Shake", in Austin on Lamar ?

No its called "Top Notch Hamburgers"

[pachanga]

Thanks for your response about Night Hawk.

I think you're right - it may have been at the Atchafalaya/Landry's location on Westheimer.

I believe that The Frisco Shop in Austin is closing soon, too. I remember somebody mentioning that to me the last time I ate there a few months ago. Really a shame.

the frisco is still open in austin....

Edited June 13, 2007 by pachanga

[Disastro]

First up, I am new and just found this forum yesterday...what an awesome forum!!! Bringing back a lot of memories. I am thoroughly diggin' it!

Here's my list of defunct Houston restaurants that I liked:

1. Panjo's Pizza (surprised no one has mentioned this place as it was a small chain at the time) -- Next to Valian's this was my favorite pizza in Houston. I used to frequent the one on 1960 next to the old Champions theater. Many a high school Friday night was spent going to see a movie and then to Panjos for pizza and beer. Anyway, really good crust on this one! Kind of crispy...

2. Valian's -- somebody SERIOUSLY needs to bring back this restaurant...get the recipes and just do it...LOL I was REAL young (probably around 5 or so) when my parents used to bring this home...I still remember how good it was.

3. Yamin's Pizza -- I remember it being on Wesleyan...DAMN good pizza. Can you tell I am a Pizza Connoiseur (sp?)?

4. Burger Chef -- Again, probably 5 when I had this last...remember one over near Wesleyan I believe...and one over in Bellaire on Chimney Rock. Liked it at the time, but I have a feeling it was probably McDonald's competitor...same quality.

5. Hamburgers by Gourmet -- They don't make em like this anymore. Parents used to take me to one over on Kirby near the Village. Later on, we had one on 1960 near North Oaks Mall. The chili cheeseburger was excellent...but you paid for it after you ate one..at least I did.

6. Del Taco -- Yeah, I liked it! :-) Heck of a lot better than Taco Bell. Had one across from Klein High School and we all used to frequent the place pretty regularly. Went to sunny California a few years ago and to my shock and awe discovered it was "Del Taco heaven". Ate there a few times just for "old times sake". Tasted exactly the way I remembered it.

7. Farrells, Northwest Mall -- I too, would go there for birthdays, etc. Awesome place!

8. 11th Street Barbecue -- I spent a LOT of time in the heights as my grandmother lived there. Ate a lot of 11th Street Barbecue! I miss that place!

9. J&J Barbecue, Herkimer St. -- My maternal grandmother used to take me there when I was, again -- 5 or so...lol. You can tell food made a big impression on me, right? Bwhahahaha!!! Anyway, used to like to go there cos I could watch the choo-choo train come down the train tracks that used to run across 11th street near there. Plus the barbecue ruled. I remember the sliced beef sandwiches were served on slices of regular white bread.

10. Heap O' Cream -- little ice cream parlor on Yale next to the park (can't remember the name of the park). My grandmother used to take me to the park and to get an ice cream cone at the parlor. I remember they had a soda/malt fountain with those chrome and red cushion bar stool thingys and ceiling fans in there.

11. Borden Ice Cream parlor at Main and Studewood...PURE MAGIC. Loved their malts!!! Same old time, soda fountain with ceiling fans look that Heap o' Cream had...

12. Akin Pharmacy's Soda Fountain Studewood/18th (?) -- Another fine malt...for the malt connoseurs out there...same classic soda fountain setup inside. I remember the Eckerd Drug on Holcombe near Stella Link (used to live near there when I was in Elementary School) used to have the same setup during the 60s.

14. Bellaire Broiler Burger -- Excellent food. I remember the carrousel they had in there for kids who were my age at the time.

15. Roy Roger's Roast Beef -- On the 610 feeder near the Galleria. Loved that place! I guess Arby's killed Roy. :-(

Edited June 13, 2007 by Disastro

[northbeaumont]

Here is my working list of restaurants and clubs:

Famous Chicken House - Telephone Road

Old Heidelburg Inn - Telephone Road

Old Hickory Stick - Telephone Road

Old Mexico - Gray

Foote's Cafeteria - in Bellaire

Galli Spaghetti House - Telephone Road

Mr. Sirloin - Telephone at 610

Liberty Hall - Red Beans and Rice

Valian's - both the restaurant on Main and the pizza place on Shepherd

Big Humprey's Pizza - Belfort

Italian Beef House - Telephone under the Coca Cola sign

Samperi's - Telephone Road

Ray Hay's Broiler Burger - Telephone at Dumble

Leo's Mexican - 2203 S. Shepherd

The Whistle Stop Bar-b-que - Old Galveston Road

The Cellar Door Bar-b-que - two locations

Cardet's Cafe (Cuban) - 1927 Fairview

The Hoagie Shop - 3507 S. Shepherd

Zorba's - 202 Tuam

Alfred's - On Rice and Stella Link

Marini's Empanda House - Westheimer

Swiss Haus - In the Village

The Village Cheese Shop - In the Village

Captain Benny's - in the boat at Greenbriar and Main

Sonny Look's - on Main

The Hobbit Hole - 1715 S. Shepherd

St. Michel - 2150 Richmond

Prufrock's Tavern - 423 Westheimer

Joseph's Wine Shop - 1408 Westheimer

The Chicago Pizza Company - 4100 Mandell

Chaucer's - 5020 Montrose

Cody's (really a jazz club) - 3400 Montrose

Mrs. Me's Cafe - Dunlavy at Indiana

La Bodega - 2402 Mandell

Weinerschnitzel - Westheimer at Commonwealth

Spud-U-Like - 416 Westheimer

Butera's - 5019 Montrose and the Grocery Store on Bissonet

Matt Garner's Bar-b-que - Gray (Good as it ever was)

Las Brisas - 614 W. Gray

Captain John's - W. Gray at Woodhead

Gantry's - 1658 Westheimer (now Marks)

The Wine Press - W. Gray

Renu's - 1230 Westheimer

Mana Eleni - 1115 Missouri

U.S. Bar & Grill - 1220 Taft

Quasimodo's Sanctuary - 1985 Welch (now Mockingbird)

Metropol - 1007 Waugh

Missouri Street Cafe - 1117 Missouri

River Cafe - 3615 Montrose

Albritton's Cafeteria - Waugh

Glatzmaier's - Old Market Square

Landry's Seafood - 2912 S. Shepherd

The Stables - S. Main at Greenbriar

I'm pushing fifty. The farthest back I can remember a Taco Bell first opening up in Houston was when I was about 11 or 12, which would have been the late 1960s/early 1970s. I remember it being right by Hobby Airport (Intercontinental had just opened), I think on Park Place Boulevard. Can anyone tell me if my memory is serving me correctly?

[brerrabbit]

The first Taco Bell in that area was at the corner of Bellfort and Telephone. Not really on the corner but just a littl east of the intersection down Bellfort. It was our late night hangout when I was in high school. After a night of drinking we would sober up with $.25 tacos and burritos.

[Subdude]

First up, I am new and just found this forum yesterday...what an awesome forum!!! Bringing back a lot of memories. I am thoroughly diggin' it!

Welcome to HAIF.

Try using the search function on the restaurant names you mentioned. There have been topics or pictures of a lot of them.

[brucesw]

Robb Walsh's story this week on CFS mentions the Frisco and says the site has been purchased by Walgreen's and will be demolished next year.

[Mikeytex]

I mentioned this earlier in this thread, but there was a restaurant named Willie & Mike's Innovation on Westheimer. I believe it is close to where Texadelphia and Mama's are located. They had a costume/seating area theme, where the staff wore various costumes. I do remember there being waiters/waitresses dressed as cops and prisoners, etc..........Does anybody remember this place?

[Willsatx]

Did you all have a PEOPLE'S RESTAURANT in Houston?