HouNative56

Over the years many many restaurants have come and gone in out fair city. Houston is known as "The Restaurant Capital of The World". Houston has more restaurants per capita than any other U.S. city. I started this Thread to let people list their all-time favorites, of the ones they miss the most. Does anyone remember The Rail Head and Victoria Station from back in the 70's? These were Rail Road themed restaurants, that's were really popular in the 70's and 80's. As a kid it was wonderful. At the Rail Head, they actually had a stage for music acts, surrounded by open rail cars with dining booths and tables. I used to frequent it alot when The Elliot Walter Band used to play there. My mother is really good friends with them. If you never heard of The Elliot Walter band, you have probably heard a song of their's though, it's called "Slime in the Ice Machine". Marvin Zindler's theme song.

I do remember both of these, right by Windsor Plaza, at Richmond and 610. Thanks for jogging my memory.

Does anyone remember the two restaurants (see topic description above)? Also, now that I think about it, the Safari @ Richmond and Loop 610 is another...

Pier 21 was on Fannin, just down from the bayou (I think), and The Polynesian was on the northeast corner of Sage and Westheimer... and Wyatt's Cafeteria in Highland Village... and the drive-in (like a Sonic) that was just across the tracks from Highland Village, the north side of Westheimer (west side of tracks) that had orange striped awnings? (I'll be surprised if anyone remembers this one).

Folks, one of the reasons I'm interested is that sometimes I feel that there are very few Native Houstonians left. When I went to the Will Rogers Elementary reunion in March 2006, I knew not one person, although I went there for six years (1962-1968).

Thanks for responding to the restaurant question above. It's really great interfacing with people on sites like this.

I read in a book on Houston history about an excellent restaurant called Ye Olde College Inn. What was the location? I believe that it was in business from the 1920s through the 1950s. Also, does anyone miss Valian's (across from the Shamrock Hilton) and Bud Bigelow's on Westheimer?

Does anyone re member when the POS opened and closed (years)? They were located @ the SEC of today's 610 and 59, just north of Bellaire. When they were demolished, I retrieved a metal post from a railing surrounding the horse ring. Also, in the late 1970's, Ranch 74 Beef had an outlet there (the stables were already gone). Thanks for responding!