Historic Houston Restaurants

[tomlaf]

In the 1970's there was a Chinese restaurant, Cathay House I think, around the 6600 block of S. Main near Dryden or Southgate intersection. It a big space and had very high ceilings, maybe 20-30 high, odd for a restaurant. There were windows high on the walls on 2 sides, like a person could look into the restaurant and monitor activities. I always wondered what had been there originally. It seems like it could have been a casino in prior to a restaurant. I have heard that there was a casino out in that area either on Main, or just off it in the 40's or 50's. Does anyone recall Cathay House and/or know what was in that location prior to Cathay House

[kylejack]

Allen Center is across the street (Smith) from the Hyatt.

It was Ninfa's until a year or so ago, and now is Don Patron.

Nah, its been Don Patron longer than that. I've been at my current job for a year and a half and it was Don Patron when I was working at Chevron before that.

[EMME]

Nah, its been Don Patron longer than that. I've been at my current job for a year and a half and it was Don Patron when I was working at Chevron before that.

THat's what the "or so ago" covers.

[musicman]

Nah, its been Don Patron longer than that. I've been at my current job for a year and a half and it was Don Patron when I was working at Chevron before that.

check the date, he wrote that almost 4 yrs ago.

[kylejack]

Hehe these forums drive me crazy, my bad.

[Fringe]

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!

Loved Lee's Den. The only Chinese restaurant that comes close to it is Kam's on Montrose. Also ate at that Kips a lot when I used to work in Bellaire. They were so much better than Denny’s. 

[Subdude]

In the 1970's there was a Chinese restaurant, Cathay House I think, around the 6600 block of S. Main near Dryden or Southgate intersection. It a big space and had very high ceilings, maybe 20-30 high, odd for a restaurant. There were windows high on the walls on 2 sides, like a person could look into the restaurant and monitor activities. I always wondered what had been there originally. It seems like it could have been a casino in prior to a restaurant. I have heard that there was a casino out in that area either on Main, or just off it in the 40's or 50's. Does anyone recall Cathay House and/or know what was in that location prior to Cathay House

Do a search for it. I posted a picture of it a while back in another topic. It was at 6638 South Main and later became Ship Ahoy.

[rsb320]

I remember the neon sign for Lee's Den. There was another Chinese retaurant (also had a neon sign) farther down S. Main, near Braesmain. I can't remember the name. I do remember that their velvet corn and crab soup was delish.

I also remember, way back, there was a Mexican restaurant on the other side of Main, near where Al's Formal Wear is, called El Chico. It was the first Mexican restaurant I ever ate at that wasn't a Taco Bell.

[WestUNative]

Do a search for it. I posted a picture of it a while back in another topic. It was at 6638 South Main and later became Ship Ahoy.

Actually, Ship Ahoy probably came first. My parents were divorced and that was my Daddy's favorite place to take me out to eat when he visited. This would have been in late 1940's through early 1950's. Wonderful place with the little balconies, ship deck railings, high ceilings and windows. Always felt special to me and the seafood was super as well.

[Melwood]

And then became a bunch of townhomes.

Both Bavarian Gardens & Garden in the Heights were lovely places for shows. I'm sure I saw Brave Combo at an Oktoberfest or two. After the Germans sold it, some Irish folks ran it for a while; pretty good folk & Celtic rock shows, with lovely live oaks to shade the pale folk. And beer!

And I seem to remember a Pacifica benefit, at which a full grown billy goat was auctioned off to some fool....

Wait! Garden in the Heights isn't there anymore? Who is responsible for this? That's just wrong.

[MaggieMay]

Wait! Garden in the Heights isn't there anymore? Who is responsible for this? That's just wrong.

I don't know the details. But the buildings needed maintenance; it's possible the place just wasn't making enough money to continue. Then some developers probably showed up with wads of cash for such a desirable location.

'tis a pity, though.

[sheeats]

Old menus from Don's Seafood in Morgan City (the original Landry's), circa 1972:

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2009/07/old_dons_menu.php

I think it speaks to how classic Gulf coast cuisine is that you could walk into any restaurant today and see a very similar menu (perhaps minus the cowboy riding a giant crawfish on the cover).

[houstonmacbro]

Iconic East End eatery falls victim to rail

Harrisburg project ends Lenox Barbecue's 63-year run

By ALLAN TURNER

HOUSTON CHRONICLE

July 19, 2009, 8:34PM

Nathan Lindstrom Chronicle

Erik Mrok, owner of Lenox Barbecue, stands outside his restaurant that has closed due to Metro light rail line construction.

Lenox Barbecue's big closing bash was a party to remember: Scores of diners chowed through mountains of brisket, quaffed 14 cases of beer and lovingly recounted tales from the eatery's glory years. But now the party's over and the padlock's on the door.

After 63 years of serving barbecue and all the fixings to East End patrons, the Harrisburg Boulevard restaurant has become a victim of progress. In coming months, rails for the Metropolitan Transit Authority's east Houston light rail project will run right through the restaurant's dining room. The owner and Metro officials finalized the property sale last month.

Full article here: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6537112.html

[musicman]

Too bad I couldn't make the closing. Another piece of history.

[drew1955]

I moved to Seabrook in 1977, and would like to mention some area memories:

There was an Alfie's Fish and Chips on Nasa Road 1 in the late 70's. My strongest memory of my sole visit was that the ketchup bottles on the tables had been refilled so many times that the labels and caps were gone, and ALL of the bottles had aluminum foil lids. I did not return.

Webb's Cove in Seabrook breaded their fried shrimp with crushed pecans.

The Kemah Steakhouse (wiped out by Alicia) had the following: "the 440"-4 oz boneless sirloin w/ 4 fried oysters, fries and coleslaw ($4.40); "the 660"-6 oz sirloin w/ 6 oysters, etc ($6.60); and "the 880"-8 oz sirloin w/ 8 oysters, etc. ($8.80). My alltime favorite "surf-n-turf".

Ruby's Chinese/League City: the first time I had Peking (Beijing?) Duck.

Frank's Shrimp Hut (now a Hooter's/ NR 1 and TX 146); shrimp po'boys for $2.25. A story; Frank supported the wrong candidate in a Seabrook election. As a result, he was arrested and handcuffed by Seabrook PD during a busy lunch time for a "zoning violation". Frank put a petition in his restaurant calling for an end to the political harrasment, and got a few thousand signatures (including mine). Result; no more problems with City Hall.

The Crazy Cajun: popular with celebrities (Dolly Parton, Gene Hackman, Burgess Meredith, Teri Garr) visiting Clear Lake. My favorite: bacon-wrapped barbecued oysters.

South Texas Smokehouse: barbecued buffalo (bison) brisket on Saturdays.

Waite's Wharf/Kemah (another Alicia victim): A SF buffet that I rated better than the San Jacinto Inn. Reason for this heresy: al-you-can eat frog legs.

T-Bone Tom's/Kemah (before Tom Fitzmorris' death in 1997). Still in business, but with a gutted menu (no more BBQ ham).

Finally, the Panama Griil/Seabrook (now occupied by a Moody National Bank). Where I discovered black bean soup and orange roughy. Waiters dressed like Parrotheads. And one of the few restaurants where the staff remembered that I don't like lemon in my iced tea. The Grill burned down due to a suspicious fire started in an adjacent business, and the Grill's owner could not afford to rebuild (so I was told by a former employee).

[H8S 4 LIFE]

My family used to love Joe Matranga's on Irvington. An intimate Italian restaurant with dim lights and tremendous homemade food. Joe was the kind of guy that would come by the table, ask about your family, and genuinely cared about his patrons. He retired in the late 80's, and closed down. The last time I could recognize the building it was a cantina.

[hammerofhope]

Great thread, brings back memories.

1. does anyone remember the name of a French bistro/cafe that was on Kirby, around late 80s / early 90s? It was around Kirby and Westheimer or maybe Kirby and Alabama, on the east side of street.

2. does anyone remember a hamburger place that was on Heights Blvd, south of I-10 on the east side of the street, about 20 years ago?

Many thanks if anyone can supply answers.

[capt. kirk]

MIZE'S BAKERY AT GULFGATE MALL, THE RANCH HOUSE ON TELEPHONE RD. NEAR HOBBY, DUCHO'S ON SHEPERD-THIS ONE MIGHT STILL BE THERE JUST NOT SURE, GOGI'S PIZZA AT PARK PLACE AND BROADWAY, THE COPPER KETTLE--FORGOT THE LOCATION, PICADILLY CAFETERIA AT GULFGATE, THE CHUCK WAGON/TASTE FREEZE ON BROADWAY IN PARK PLACE, THE ORIGINAL JAMES COONEY ISLAND IN DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WITH THE UPSTAIRS,

[Subdude]

Great thread, brings back memories.

1. does anyone remember the name of a French bistro/cafe that was on Kirby, around late 80s / early 90s? It was around Kirby and Westheimer or maybe Kirby and Alabama, on the east side of street.

Are you sure Kirby and not Shepherd? The places I remember on that part of Kirby were Jalapenos, Carrabas, Cafe Express and House of Pies.

[JLWM8609]

Anyone remember the Po' Folks chain of restaurants that used to be around town? I remember there being one on I-45 between Parker and Little York on the Southbound side and there was also one out on I-10 east. They used to have these little games on each table to play while you waited for your food. Then there was Two Pesos, we used to go to the one on S. Main and OST. Of course Taco Cabana resides in that building now. I used to think that the old two lane drive thru with the elevator system to deliver your food was so cool when I was a little boy. There was also a place called Hank's Seafood or Fish Market or something along those lines. They had locations on Griggs near MLK and one on S. Post Oak near Orem. Then there was Wyatt's. I recently went to the one on Griggs near Cullen. While the food wasn't as good as I remembered it, it was still nice to relive childhood memories.

Though it's been gone for just a few months, I miss Beaucoup Wings and Wings dearly. But it may have been a good thing healthwise. Shortly after it closed down, I lost 10 pounds.

[GBryant]

Anyone remember the Po' Folks chain of restaurants that used to be around town? I remember there being one on I-45 between Parker and Little York on the Southbound side and there was also one out on I-10 east. They used to have these little games on each table to play while you waited for your food. Then there was Two Pesos, we used to go to the one on S. Main and OST. Of course Taco Cabana resides in that building now. I used to think that the old two lane drive thru with the elevator system to deliver your food was so cool when I was a little boy. There was also a place called Hank's Seafood or Fish Market or something along those lines. They had locations on Griggs near MLK and one on S. Post Oak near Orem. Then there was Wyatt's. I recently went to the one on Griggs near Cullen. While the food wasn't as good as I remembered it, it was still nice to relive childhood memories.

Though it's been gone for just a few months, I miss Beaucoup Wings and Wings dearly. But it may have been a good thing healthwise. Shortly after it closed down, I lost 10 pounds.

My family would frequent the Po Folks at Fondren and 59 South. I really liked the chicken and dumplings and the fact that they served drinks in Mason jars. I guess, now that I think about it, they were going for the whole Cracker Barrel thing including the peg games at every table. I remember that they had old Burma Shave signs on the walls and one read:

Peach is good with lots of fuzz

Man's no peach. . .and never was!

Wow, I'm now having a vague recollection of a Chinese restaurant at the same location. They had a noodle soup dish that they prepared at the table. They would drop dried noodles into a bowl of something or other and it would create a billowing cloud of steam that greatly impressed my young self . It was also there that I learned that hot mustard nauseates me.

[rsb320]

Are you sure Kirby and not Shepherd? The places I remember on that part of Kirby were Jalapenos, Carrabas, Cafe Express and House of Pies.

No, there was a place on Kirby. It was near the old Hard Rock (Kirby, near Westheimer). Actually, I think they tore down the restaurant to build the Hard Rock. Funny, in looking at maps.google (2727 Kirby) they are in the middle of tearing down the Hard Rock. Streetview now shows a Wachovia there.

Anyway, it was a medium to light brown brick building with an awning that represented the French flag.

[EMME]

My family used to love Joe Matranga's on Irvington. An intimate Italian restaurant with dim lights and tremendous homemade food. Joe was the kind of guy that would come by the table, ask about your family, and genuinely cared about his patrons. He retired in the late 80's, and closed down. The last time I could recognize the building it was a cantina.

We drove from west Houston to eat at Matranga's. I saw Joe a few years back dishing out spaghetti at the Sacred Hearts Spaghetti lunch held every Thursday at the Sacred Hearts hall off of AIrline and I-45. Their spaghetti is almost as good as Joe's.

[JLWM8609]

My family would frequent the Po Folks at Fondren and 59 South.

I forgot about that location! We used to go there too. I thought PoFolks went out of business, but apparently there are still locations in Alabama, California and Florida.

I really liked the chicken and dumplings and the fact that they served drinks in Mason jars. I guess, now that I think about it, they were going for the whole Cracker Barrel thing including the peg games at every table. I remember that they had old Burma Shave signs on the walls and one read:

Peach is good with lots of fuzz

Man's no peach. . .and never was!

I used to think that drinking out of mason jars was cool. Of course, everything out of the ordinary was cool to me as a little boy. We used to have a few mason jars here at the house that we used to drink out of. They succumbed to one too many accidental knock overs from a table and onto the floor.

[brucesw]

There was also a place called Hank's Seafood or Fish Market or something along those lines. They had locations on Griggs near MLK and one on S. Post Oak near Orem. T

The Hank's on S. Post Oak is still there.

[brucesw]

This coming week's episode of Postcards from Texas on 55 will has a segment on Italian restauranteurs. 4pm Sunday and the following Friday at 1:30pm.

In their archives of stories they also have an article on the San Jacinto Inn with a video clip.

[hammerofhope]

No, there was a place on Kirby. It was near the old Hard Rock (Kirby, near Westheimer). Actually, I think they tore down the restaurant to build the Hard Rock. Funny, in looking at maps.google (2727 Kirby) they are in the middle of tearing down the Hard Rock. Streetview now shows a Wachovia there.

Anyway, it was a medium to light brown brick building with an awning that represented the French flag.

OK. I just checked TABC public records and I believe the place in question was this:

Pour La France! Cafe and Bakery

2811 Kirby Drive

Houston, TX 77098

Orig. Issue Date 8/11/92

Date expired 8/11/93

as rsb320 mentioned, it's very possible that this place was torn down to make room for the Hard Rock Cafe, but I remember the Hard Rock being in that spot on Kirby since at least the mid-to-late 80s, yes?

[JLWM8609]

The Hank's on S. Post Oak is still there.

Hmm, I hadn't been by there in a while. Last time I passed by, it looked deserted. You mean they're still doing business?

[mkultra25]

OK. I just checked TABC public records and I believe the place in question was this:

Pour La France! Cafe and Bakery

2811 Kirby Drive

Houston, TX 77098

Orig. Issue Date 8/11/92

Date expired 8/11/93

as rsb320 mentioned, it's very possible that this place was torn down to make room for the Hard Rock Cafe, but I remember the Hard Rock being in that spot on Kirby since at least the mid-to-late 80s, yes?

My recollection is that Pour La France was next door to the Hard Rock. I used to eat breakfast there regularly with my then-SO (now my wife) when I first met her. They had pretty good cappuccino that was served in huge cups.

[kylejack]

Anyone remember that Fire + Ice restaurant that was on, I believe, Kirby? Was it any good?