Historic Houston Restaurants

[Southernpilot]

On 7/16/2009 at 9:31 AM, spiderroller said:

I remember a "Lee's Den" on South Main.... some of the best Chinese Food ever in Houston.... ate there many times as a child with my parents.

I haven't read this whole thread... but... will always remember the Shakey's Pizza on Bellaire Blvd. (now Enterprise Car Rental, and next to Baskin Robbins and Dunkin Donuts which are STILL there!)...... and...... Alfie's Fish & Chips... there were many Alfie's all over town, but we spent many a childhood asking for extra "chips" at the one in the strip center behind the Dunkin Donuts on Bellaire Blvd. Come to think of it.. right across the street where there is a big bank (in front of Bellaire Post Office)... was... Kip's Big Boy!

Was there an Alfie's Fish-N-Chips on South Shepherd?

[mkultra25]

1 hour ago, Southernpilot said:

Was there an Alfie's Fish-N-Chips on South Shepherd?

 

Yes - 3301 S. Shepherd at Branard. It was mentioned earlier in this thread:

 

https://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/3925-defunct-houston-restaurants/?do=findComment&comment=368516

[csb]

Please!!! There was a steakhouse/bar-b-que place on Stella Link right before Bellaire Blvd back in the 60's that I think began with a C (but I wouldn't swear to that). They served an amazing cheese spread at each table to spread on your crackers. Help me remember!!!

 

[TBrown]

HI, does anyone remember the name of the hot dog place inside San Jacinto Mall? I lived in Baytown back in the middle 80's and I remember eating from there every time we went to that mall. 

[gnu]

Corn Dog 7?

[gene]

On 8/7/2020 at 7:42 AM, gnu said:

Corn Dog 7?

i used to love the corn dog 7 at the woodlands mall!!!! dang i forgot about that place and pretty much went there every mall visit haha!

Edited August 27, 2020 by gene

[rcseptemple@gmail.]

Any memories of Bill Miller Steakhouse on OST?

[Specwriter]

17 hours ago, rcseptemple@gmail. said:

Any memories of Bill Miller Steakhouse on OST?

That would be something interesting to learn about. Your wrote "OST" so I take it you are not confusing the restaurant with Bill Williams that was on Main Street. There is a Bill Miller's chain of bar-b-que restaurants in and around San Antonio. I believe the closest one to Houston is in Seguin at Interstate 10 and Texas 46.

[FilioScotia]

**** There was a steakhouse/bar-b-que place on Stella Link right before Bellaire Blvd ****

 

You may be thinking of the Cellar Door. 

[Texmex1]

On 8/16/2020 at 9:58 PM, FilioScotia said:

**** There was a steakhouse/bar-b-que place on Stella Link right before Bellaire Blvd ****

 

You may be thinking of the Cellar Door. 

 

Yep, that was the Cellar Door.....

[hbcu]

lol I worked next to one of those places. Wasn't that bad 

[Blue Dogs]

On 8/4/2005 at 7:50 PM, BayouCityGirl said:

Mr. Gatti's (their still around somewhere)

Showbiz Pizza (AKA Chuck E. Cheese)

Del Taco (their still around!)

JoJo's (breakfast house...y'all know what I am talking about right?)

Champs

I remembered going to Chuck E. Cheese back in the day.

[RustyO]

trying to remember the name of the mexican restaurant on Durham, a few blocks south of 1-10. it was popular in the 90's for happy hour as well. 

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

Cyclone Anaya's?

[Tiltingwindmills]

Fond memories of  Bavarian Garden, Rosnovsky’s, Mexico City, Alfred’s Deli, Chuckwagon, Sonny Look’s (my first baked potato!), Hillman’s, Dobb’s House, even Monterey House. Original James, Last Concert, Antone’s. Drawing some blanks on my trip down memory lane: all from early 1970s: BBQ joint on Telephone near Hobby; speciality was chopped BBQ brisket baked inside a loaf of bread. Burger joint on Cullen in a new strip mall across Cullen from the main entrance to UH and the student center; had pitchers of beer and local bands on weekends. Burger joint on Washington near downtown in an old schoolhouse (Abbott’s?). Tex-Mex place (Las Cazuelas?) on Quitman near North Main, second floor (recollect a store below); was my place for nachos and beer. 

[FilioScotia]

You mention two of my all-time favorite eateries. I remember that BBQ place on Telephone near Hobby Airport, especially that incredible chopped beef stuffed into half an unsliced loaf of bread. That was a serious meal. Laz Cazuelas on Quitman was another favorite. My wife and I would drop in there for very late night beer and tacos. Most of its clientele were Hispanics, which is a sure sign that the food is gonna be good. 

[JESS Kalinowsky]

Anyone remember a 1960's  big private home that was converted into a restaurant, that had a big back yard with Peacocks? Famous for fried chicken family style Sunday brunch. Seems it was in SouthEast Houston, near a bayou. Older mini-mansions.  JESS@FriendsTravel.com if you remember 

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

Vargo's on Fondren, maybe? I lived across the street from it, those peacocks were LOUD.

[celestedawn]

Just this week I was trying to remember a fancy restaurant my parents took me to in the 70's. I was born in '64. It was out of our league, but so exciting. What I recall is elephants, and maybe other African animals, and a spacious stand-alone place (not Harry's Kenya in the base of a downtown building, nor a strip mall) that was maybe east of Spring Branch. The interior was cream and gold. That's pretty much all I have. Does anyone's memory fit that description? African, or Middle-Eastern, or possibly Asian. I was not accustomed to any of those cultures and I just loved the experience. Thanks in advance!

[mkultra25]

22 hours ago, celestedawn said:

Just this week I was trying to remember a fancy restaurant my parents took me to in the 70's. I was born in '64. It was out of our league, but so exciting. What I recall is elephants, and maybe other African animals, and a spacious stand-alone place (not Harry's Kenya in the base of a downtown building, nor a strip mall) that was maybe east of Spring Branch. The interior was cream and gold. That's pretty much all I have. Does anyone's memory fit that description? African, or Middle-Eastern, or possibly Asian. I was not accustomed to any of those cultures and I just loved the experience. Thanks in advance!

 

I seem to recall an African-themed restaurant (or possibly bar) on the northeast corner of 610 and Richmond in the late 60s/early 70s. I want to say it was called Safari, but searching for that name proved fruitless as it only turned up much newer establishments with that name. 

[Dave W]

On 10/24/2020 at 1:27 AM, JESS Kalinowsky said:

Anyone remember a 1960's  big private home that was converted into a restaurant, that had a big back yard with Peacocks? Famous for fried chicken family style Sunday brunch. Seems it was in SouthEast Houston, near a bayou. Older mini-mansions.  JESS@FriendsTravel.com if you remember 

 The Green Parrot on MacGregor Way. It was opened in the early 1950s.

[Casafun]

On 10/5/2005 at 1:56 PM, MarthaG said:

There use to be an area that was upstairs at Sharpstown Mall that had bars and resturants. Anyone remember that? Names of any of them? I use to go see live music there sometimes.

Chelsea Street Pub

On 8/28/2020 at 8:00 PM, Tumbleweed_Tx said:

Cyclone Anaya's?

Yup.  Best drinks and birthday celebrations ever.  The guy would put a plastic apron on you stand on a chair across the room and shoot tequila/sprite thru this bong looking thing into your mouth (over diners heads)

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

On 9/12/2004 at 8:23 PM, groovehouse said:

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.

haha, let's dredge one up from the beginning. This post is old enough to drive. I wonder if Groovehouse still looks at this forum occasionally... Yo, we're doing shows at HoB again soon, hope to see you around.

[TJM]

Does anyone remember Old Shucker’s just off of I-45 in Conroe?  Tiny place, good food, (90% crabs), and a rollicking happy hour for folks on their way from Houston to the Woodlands in the early 1980s.  I tended bar there for a time.  

 

Owned by Gerry (Jerry?) and Becky Doyle - great folks and good times!

[Watson503]

A few off the top of my head - Ballatori's on Leeland, Hymie's Burgers (across from Queen of Peace church) on Telephone, Basim Bugers (old Chuck Wagon on Lawndale), Zappo's, ZZ Zamora's, La Hacienda off Braeswood and Main, Moose's - first on Chetwood and later moved to the Bellaire Triangle. 

[D.P.]

Does Anyone remember the BBQ Rib restaurant on Westheimer? (I think it was a White building) and I think the name started with an "H". It sat on the south side of the street. I can't remember if there was a Jack 'n the Box near it. Going out toward hwy 6 (but not that far), just going in that direction. 

It had "the" Best bbq sauce. This would have been back in the 90's.

Also what is the name of the Mexican restaurant, where when you Need something, you pull the little Flag up on your table and one of the workers would come to your table to see what you needed. I think it started with a "P".

Edited June 5, 2021 by D.P.
Added another question.

[august948]

36 minutes ago, D.P. said:

Does Anyone remember the BBQ Rib restaurant on Westheimer? (I think it was a White building) and I think the name started with an "H". It sat on the south side of the street. I can't remember if there was a Jack 'n the Box near it. Going out toward hwy 6 (but not that far), just going in that direction. 

It had "the" Best bbq sauce. This would have been back in the 90's.

Also what is the name of the Mexican restaurant, where when you Need something, you pull the little Flag up on your table and one of the workers would come to your table to see what you needed. I think it started with a "P".

Not sure about the BBQ place but the Mexican restaurant was Pancho's.

[Bruce Ross]

My brother and I did the local flyer advertising for both ZuZu locations. The Shepherd location did hot business with our first few area runs, but tailed off over time to steady.  The West University location was very steady all around. Good food, and a shame that it never lasted for more than a few years. 

[kbear37]

Leo's Mexican Restaurant was located on Shepard near Westheimer. They had some of the best hot sauce and great enchiladas.

Also remember two 70's restaurants next each other on Woodway Square (Gessner & Westheimer).

Don The Beachcomber and The Flying Tiger (right next to each other)

Edited October 3, 2021 by kbear37
omitted word that corrected grammar

[PJE]

Does anyone remember the name of a restaurant that was off of 45 and they served their food on a trash can lid? I think it was a cajun restaurant.

 

[Specwriter]

11 hours ago, PJE said:

Does anyone remember the name of a restaurant that was off of 45 and they served their food on a trash can lid? I think it was a Cajun restaurant.

 

Thankfully, no. 🙂

[JudgeBen]

I remember Delmonico on lower Westheimer. An upscale Italian restaurant I went to with my parents in the 1950’s. Any info about it. 

[michael.sonnier]

I used to work a lot at the Great Mine Company.  I worked a lot of backup rolling silverware into napkins into glasses.  We rode the elevator up and down with us inside pulling  a rope beside.  What fun.  we had Halloween parties and they served a lot of nutmeg there in ice cream drinks.  The steak was so good famous Houston Oilers Football players would dine there all the time.   They were very busy every single night.  Oh, what good times thosew were!

[pecos]

On 6/5/2021 at 2:56 PM, august948 said:

Not sure about the BBQ place but the Mexican restaurant was Pancho's.

was it Bud Bigalow's Steak House ?

[Dave W]

4 hours ago, pecos said:

 name of chinese restaurant on south main across from medical towers 1950-60's ?

Ding How was at 6800 South Main.

[mkultra25]

17 hours ago, Dave W said:

Ding How was at 6800 South Main.

[brucesw]

Now that I don't remember at all.  Possibly gone by the time I got here in '70?  Wasn't Lee's Den in that block too?, with the Astrodome mock-up?

@pecos Bud Bigelow's was one of the Steak House Associates restaurants I believe just a little west of the Galleria next to the fire station on the north side of the street.  SHA also had The Stables (Westheimer in River Oaks and on S. Main) The Courtyard (on I-10) and another restaurant that I think was seafood @ 2607 Westheimer that became the first Chuy's in Houston (from Austin).  All three restaurants along Westheimer were on the north side of the street.

@D.P. Westheimer is a pretty long road.  Can you be a little more specific about location (and time frame).  I can only think of 3 bbq restaurants on the south side of Westheimer:

Thomas BBQ - mid 70s and on, Westheimer @ Chimney Rock or not far west of there, in a strip center (it may have been white).  Great lunch spot.

Luther's (became Pappas) - Westheimer @ Gessner - still there.  I may be remembering that wrong.  May have been a white building when it was Pappas.

Brandon's - late 90's at the earliest, in Carillon Square, may have been a white building. Brandon was the son-in law of the man who wound up running Thomas (3 locations) after his restaurantuer partner died just shortly after opening.

I don't know that any of them specialized in ribs.

Edited May 13, 2022 by brucesw

[Dave W]

7 hours ago, brucesw said:

Now that I don't remember at all.  Possibly gone by the time I got here in '70?  Wasn't Lee's Den in that block too?, with the Astrodome mock-up?

...

Lee's Den was at 8100, just past the Ace Trailer Park.

I can't remember when Ding How closed, it was definitely around well into the 60s.

[pecos]

On 5/13/2022 at 4:30 PM, brucesw said:

Now that I don't remember at all.  Possibly gone by the time I got here in '70?  Wasn't Lee's Den in that block too?, with the Astrodome mock-up?

@pecos Bud Bigelow's was one of the Steak House Associates restaurants I believe just a little west of the Galleria next to the fire station on the north side of the street.  SHA also had The Stables (Westheimer in River Oaks and on S. Main) The Courtyard (on I-10) and another restaurant that I think was seafood @ 2607 Westheimer that became the first Chuy's in Houston (from Austin).  All three restaurants along Westheimer were on the north side of the street.

@D.P. Westheimer is a pretty long road.  Can you be a little more specific about location (and time frame).  I can only think of 3 bbq restaurants on the south side of Westheimer:

Thomas BBQ - mid 70s and on, Westheimer @ Chimney Rock or not far west of there, in a strip center (it may have been white).  Great lunch spot.

Luther's (became Pappas) - Westheimer @ Gessner - still there.  I may be remembering that wrong.  May have been a white building when it was Pappas.

Brandon's - late 90's at the earliest, in Carillon Square, may have been a white building. Brandon was the son-in law of the man who wound up running Thomas (3 locations) after his restaurantuer partner died just shortly after opening.

I don't know that any of them specialized in ribs.

Bud Bigelow's was west of Voss rd on Westheimer.

[pecos]

On 6/17/2019 at 1:06 PM, Sharon said:

Someone said Velvet Turtle?  I worked there in 81. I don't think I've ever seen a place quite like it to this day. The chilled bowls in ice for gazpacho and cucumber soup, the presentation of chilled salad forks at the tables, and tableside tossed salad in green goddess dressing, and I have never had anyone remove the shell from a lobster tail like we did there. But let me tell you, the managers were a unique kind of crazy!  I remember an older lady, head waitress named BJ with the old fashioned hair "do" sitting on the end barstool drinking till she slurred her words. And Gordon was the very flamboyant bartender/manager he was hilarious and fun, but pretty strict.  And Marvin Ziegler saw a mouse in the kitchen but didn't even care because he enjoyed dinner so much. Wait.... I may have mentioned that before. If so, sorry. Fun times there!

Zindler.....Marvin Zindler

[DJKAggie]

Does anyone remember a barbecue place along 290 heading towards Jersey Villlage called Buffalo Bill's? It was my absolute favorite. We always went there when we lived in the Cy-Fair area in the early to mid-80s. Not sure when it closed, but the Q was awesome. Always a very nice owner working there.

[Kniff]

I lived in Houston for 2 years from 79-81. I worked at Spoons and the Mason Jar on Katy Freeway. They were owned by the same company. Such fun places to work. Spoons baby back ribs were delicious. The decor at the Mason Jar was eye catching, everything hanging from the ceiling. They served salad in a bucket, warm sour dough rolls and great clam chowder. I also worked at Houstons on Westheimer and another supper club on Westheimer that was high end, owned by a couple of NY brothers, Grossbar I think.

[carrob]

On 1/6/2016 at 9:02 AM, nerevar59 said:

 

I worked at Ari's from May '77 to Aug. '77. I was the dessert "chef", and made the French onion soup, and the garlic bread. Ari had a direct phone line installed from the kitchen to the bar, and we could order whatever we wanted. My favorite waitress was GiGi. Ari would let us have steaks after work, and we would go out to his house on some weekends to work on his property.

Ari opened Athenas last year, off Eldridge on 529. He was bored being a sales man. Sad to say, today, 7/12/22, Ari passed away last night. No details, but he was running a restaurant, and that made him happy till the end. He was a crusty old Greek, but just as loveable. He shall be sorely missed.

 

[Okie Sam]

On 6/21/2007 at 5:03 PM, Willsatx said:

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

There was one in 1982. Does anyone remember where it was?

[Jana Kincer]

Interested in buying any Houston restaurant matchbooks that you guys have collected. Please let me know. I can trade with you as well

[Jana Kincer]

On 2/7/2013 at 4:44 PM, IHB2 said:

I just unpacked these 70 vintage matchbooks from my late parents' stuff. Mostly Houston area restaurants of the 1950s and 1960s, but also some Houston hotels, oil industry service companie, and some great Bellaire businesses. There are another 80 or so from all over Texas and some international and other US states - I'll post a pic of these after I take it.

 

I sob a little just looking at the Valian's matches, and Kaphan's, and Pier 21, and Safari, and...

 

 

 

Would you be willing to sell that collection? I will give you a good price

[Clifford]

I have 4 childhood favorites from the 60s. Very obscure. I wonder if anyone remembers them? I even have a hard time being sure of their names and locations. 

There was a coffee shop/ diner in Westbury, on Belfort, next to the library and putt putt golf, called Kings? I just remember that part of the name. Fried grilled cheese battered, with cracker crust. Never had anything like it again.

Another was the best Italian I've ever had called Leonardo's. There were flip-card movie machines and other antiques. Best real Italian food. It was south of Westbury, out Hillcroft, somewhere. 

Then there was Brittain's Broiler Burger in Westbury Square. Very tasty flame grilled burgers and nice lemon ice cream.

Of course, Alfred's Delicatessen on Stella Link. Amazing burgers and borscht.

I remember these places and wonder if no one else remembers. 

[brucesw]

Can't help you with the first two but there were several Brittain's around, all gone, so far as I know.  The last having been renamed Bellaire Broiler Burger at the intersection of BIssonnet and Bellaire, closed during the pandemic.  A food truck has been operating at that location for a couple of months, claiming to have the recipes and planning on reopening the restaurant after remodeling the interior but I understand they gave up because of issues with the building and have shut the truck down.  I'd like to find a broiler burger place but don't know of any.

 

Alfred's - of course.  Hamburger Steak Sandwich on an Egg Roll - one of the greatest burgers of all time!  All locations gone for years.  Alfred's son operated Kahn's Deli in the Village for a few years, just sandwiches, not the burger, but that's gone now, too.

[Earlydays]

...also outstanding roast beef sandwiches at Alfred's

[kbates2]

Kahn's Deli had the best reuben i've ever eaten.  Most of the sandwiches at Kahn's were the best I've ever had.