Historic Houston Restaurants

[brucesw]

Kahn's reuben was the same as Alfred's as far as I could tell.  And I'd agree - it's still the best I've ever had.

Kahn's website (I think the son's name was Michael, had a line about 'everybody's good at doing something; I'm good at making sandwiches' -  and he was.

Edited September 30, 2022 by brucesw

[Mr-DJ]

Does anyone here recall a little restaurant in an old 2-story house on lower Westheimer called Ebeneezer's, circa early 70's? I believe it was at the corner of Westheimer (Elgin) and Bagby. And if so, is there anything anywhere on the internet about it. So far, I cannot locate a single word or pic.

Edited October 18, 2022 by Mr-DJ

[mkultra25]

On 10/15/2022 at 12:35 PM, Mr-DJ said:

Does anyone here recall a little restaurant in an old 2-story house on lower Westheimer called Ebeneezer's, circa early 70's? I believe it was at the corner of Westheimer (Elgin) and Bagby. And if so, is there anything anywhere on the internet about it. So far, I cannot locate a single word or pic.

Might want to post this question in the Montrose Houston Hippie Tribe Facebook group. It's likely that someone there will not only remember it but will also have patronized it. 

[Mr-DJ]

TO: mkultra25 - Thanks for the suggestion. I have now posted there, and we'll see what happens.

[cdenker]

On 9/29/2022 at 11:07 PM, Clifford said:

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. 

Kings was the place that had telephones on the table where you could order.  It was located where the Gabbanelli Accordian Store is now, 4991 W Bellfort.   Leonardo's was probably before my time, but there is a lot of info on this place (see pic), but it is listed as being on S. Post Oak, not Hillcroft, so not sure if it is the same place or not.  

Brittains Broiler Burger wasn't technically in Westbury Square, but right next to it in a strip mall.  One of the associated locations (there were a few around town), called "Bellaire Broiler Burger" just closed weeks ago.  They were known for having a merry-go-round inside.

There is a facebook group called "Southwest Houston - Do You Remember When....."

[brucesw]

Great info, cdenker.  Never heard of Leonardo's or the Brittain's @ Westbury OR the one listed in the ad at Fondren & BIssonnet.  There was a John's Broiler Burger, discussed elsewhere on HAIF, on Telephone @ Lawndale.  Thinking it might have been a Brittain's, I went over there once.  Wasn't worth the drive.  Bellaire BB closed during the pandemic.  The attempt to resurrect it by new owners was abandoned recently due to issues with the structure I think.  Still missed by so many, maybe they'll find a new place and try again.

Edited November 1, 2022 by brucesw

[toga]

There were a couple of burger joints, I think, Across the street or maybe called Next Door? 

[Gurgis]

On 9/29/2022 at 10:07 PM, Clifford said:

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.

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

I remember Kings (and the telephones used to place orders), and want to say I remember eating onion rings there. Facing the front, to the left was AJ Foyt dealership. To the right of it Goony Golf, and then further the library.

I remember Brittain's Broiler Burger, and having great grilled burgers there, though don't remember the exact location. Someone else indicated that it was at the nearby strip mall (probably at Bellfort and Chimney Rock) where TG&Y was, and a haircut place I used to go.

Edited December 23, 2022 by Gurgis

[Gurgis]

On 12/18/2022 at 9:06 AM, toga said:

There were a couple of burger joints, I think, Across the street or maybe called Next Door? 

That's been discussed on this forum before. Across the Street (the location I remember) was essentially on Hillcroft, just south of Westheimer.

[Dave W]

Brittain's was in a separate center on the Westbury Square property. There was a Weingarten's in that center, along with Mading Drugs, TG&Y, a barber shop and a couple of others.

[Gurgis]

Here's a good article on the subject, in case that hasn't been mentioned yet:

https://thebuzzmagazines.com/articles/2014/11/restaurant-memories

Includes a great picture of Rumpleheimer's and the clock tower at Westbury Square

Edited December 23, 2022 by Gurgis

[Txgirl]

Hi.  There is a Chuys at 9350 Westheimer between Westmoreland and Janetta.  Besides Chuys it has been Water Street Seafood, The Sands, Ralph and Kacoos, Royal Buffet and more but does anyone remember the name of the original restaurant that was there in the mid 80's? (side note:  the origial building was torn down and the building that is there now was built for ralph and kacoos).  

[Absinthe_1900]

On 9/29/2022 at 11:07 PM, Clifford said:

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. 

 

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. 

 

I remember Leonardo's very well, I used get my late long suffering Mom, to take me there as a kid.
I used to save my change to feed the Nickelodeon machines that were all over the restaurant.
Loved the Italian food there, and had a lot of fun playing all the antique machines.
I'd always buy a pack of Sen-Sen that they had at the cash register, and the coin operated Edison cylinder players went on to inspire me to collect a few antique wind up phonographs 
 

[Carole]

All of these are cool, and as a native Houstonian, I remember most of them!  Question.  There was a nice, fancy (from a kid's point of view) restaurant near Sharpstown Mall on the feeder of 59 before getting to the mall on the same side.  It looked like a castle (English architecture).  My husband (also a native Houstonian) said it was a Steak 'n Ale, but I don't think so.  Does anyone remember?

[Dave W]

4 hours ago, Carole said:

All of these are cool, and as a native Houstonian, I remember most of them!  Question.  There was a nice, fancy (from a kid's point of view) restaurant near Sharpstown Mall on the feeder of 59 before getting to the mall on the same side.  It looked like a castle (English architecture).  My husband (also a native Houstonian) said it was a Steak 'n Ale, but I don't think so.  Does anyone remember?

There definitely was a Steak 'n Ale on the feeder near Sharpstown. There could have been a different restaurant in the same style but I don't remember it.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

He might be referring to the old Royal Coach Inn (I think that's what it was called)

[Dave W]

6 hours ago, Tumbleweed_Tx said:

He might be referring to the old Royal Coach Inn (I think that's what it was called)

Could be. But that was a motel, wasn't it?

[Gurgis]

On 3/28/2023 at 1:23 PM, Carole said:

All of these are cool, and as a native Houstonian, I remember most of them!  Question.  There was a nice, fancy (from a kid's point of view) restaurant near Sharpstown Mall on the feeder of 59 before getting to the mall on the same side.  It looked like a castle (English architecture).  My husband (also a native Houstonian) said it was a Steak 'n Ale, but I don't think so.  Does anyone remember?

I'm pretty sure I know what you are talking about, as I was usually looking out the window at that, as others (older than me) were driving. It wouldn't have been a Steak N' Ale, but something else. Seemed fairly large and distinctive, getting your attention. Hopefully someone will confirm, and maybe provide a picture.

[brucesw]

I haven't been able to place a Steak and Ale along there but that doesn't mean anything.  That stretch has undergone many, many changes.  Royal Coach was a huge motel and there's been discussion on Haif.  Probably had a restaurant but I know nothing about it.  There was another motel or residence inn type place next door that did not face the freeway, as I recall.  There was a steak house further down, right before the entrance to the mall - Rustler's or Cattle Rustler's or something. That's been discussed, too.  Where was Sharpstown Dodge?  That became a HouTran or Metro bus barn.  Did that replace Royal coach?  Then there was Allen Samuels, now Classic Chevrolet, I think.  (I don't get down that stretch as much as I used to).   What was in there where Lucy, the Ethiopian restaurant is?  How about what was where Pappas BBQ is now on the opposite side?  

Not helping much, am I?  One of our posters with the old phone books will show up here someday, I hope.  The only S&A's I can place were on Shepherd, between 59 & Richmond and further out 59 just before where the Beltway is now; I know there had to be others.

[Dave W]

10 hours ago, brucesw said:

I haven't been able to place a Steak and Ale along there but that doesn't mean anything.  That stretch has undergone many, many changes.  Royal Coach was a huge motel and there's been discussion on Haif.  Probably had a restaurant but I know nothing about it.  There was another motel or residence inn type place next door that did not face the freeway, as I recall.  There was a steak house further down, right before the entrance to the mall - Rustler's or Cattle Rustler's or something. That's been discussed, too.  Where was Sharpstown Dodge?  That became a HouTran or Metro bus barn.  Did that replace Royal coach?  Then there was Allen Samuels, now Classic Chevrolet, I think.  (I don't get down that stretch as much as I used to).   What was in there where Lucy, the Ethiopian restaurant is?  How about what was where Pappas BBQ is now on the opposite side?  

Not helping much, am I?  One of our posters with the old phone books will show up here someday, I hope.  The only S&A's I can place were on Shepherd, between 59 & Richmond and further out 59 just before where the Beltway is now; I know there had to be others.

There was definitely a Steak & Ale on the feeder road near Sharpstown Mall. It was on the opposite side of the freeway from the Royal Coach.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

Royal Coach and Sharpstown Dodge existed at the same time. Sharpstown Dodge was at 6890 SWF (Drive Away Autos is in that spot now), the Royal Coach Inn was in the 7000 block.

[Walt]

On 7/16/2009 at 8:43 AM, tomlaf said:

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

Yeah I heard it was a lot of underground gambling going with the Italians .

[Walt]

On 9/30/2022 at 12:28 AM, brucesw said:

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.

My mama used to drive an hour to get Alfred’s potato salad by the quart size every time we would have a family gathering of any type.. and she would act like she’s the one who made it 😄😛

[Walt]

On 9/14/2004 at 6:14 PM, Subdude said:

Never ate there, but if nothing else they should have saved the giant shrimp with six-shooters!

I think Kapans had a sports museum inside, Mr Clark Nealon, wrote the sports articles for Houston Post would donate so much sports memorabilia to them

On 9/14/2004 at 6:14 PM, Subdude said:

Never ate there, but if nothing else they should have saved the giant shrimp with six-shooters!

I think Kapans had a sports museum inside, Mr Clark Nealon, wrote the sports articles for Houston Post would donate so much sports memorabilia to them

On 9/30/2022 at 11:23 AM, kbates2 said:

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.

That deli is probably where mama always bought potato salad from

[Walt]

On 8/21/2005 at 10:23 PM, brucesw said:

Does anybody remember the name of the hamburger restaurant in the old Meyerland Plaza, on the s. side of the center, not facing Beechnut or the Loop, that had the gasoline station theme -- lots of pumps and signs and the like. Was it just the Oil Co. or something like that?

Annie’s??

Just now, Walt said:

Annie’s?? Or Luke’s they were married at one time 

 

[Marion Ford]

On 4/14/2023 at 8:14 PM, Walt said:

Annie’s??

 

I grew up in Meyerland and that plaza was my playground with Wyatts, Woolworth, Oshmans,  Walter Pye etc. I don't recall even a burger spot on the movie house side honestly. I am talking 70s/80's.  Maybe later? The closest  Annies I knew was on S Post Oak. I could be wrong though. Eons ago.

[aggieengineer]

Seemed to me that Luke's at the corner of Willow Bend and Post Oak turned into Annie's after the divorce. I worked at Belden's Food Giant in the '70s and used to walk over there for lunch regularly. Wyatt's Cafeteria directly across the street was also on the list. Also along the road were Westbury Yamaha, Cactus Tapes & Records, and AJ Foyt Chevrolet.

Edited April 26, 2023 by aggieengineer

[Downtown JuJuB]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed!   Does anyone remember where Molina’s was located on Irvington?  This was probably in the 60’s/70’s.  It might have been the original Molina’s.  I went there as a small kid.  My brother-in-law told me it was Irvington south of 610 North (closer to downtown.) I’d love to know the exact location.  

[brucesw]

Did a quick search of this topic and found no mentions of Molina's on Irvington. Sorry I can't help with that location, but it wasn't the original.  Per both the website and an Oral History in Robb Walsh's Tex Mex Cookbook, the first Molina's was at 1919 W Gray in 1941.  In that same year, apparently, the family took over the Mexico City Restaurant on South Main, which had been open since 1929.  No specific address on S. Main and the term probably referred to a different stretch of the street than it might now.

[Highrise Tower]

On 7/3/2023 at 2:44 PM, brucesw said:

Did a quick search of this topic and found no mentions of Molina's on Irvington. Sorry I can't help with that location, but it wasn't the original.  Per both the website and an Oral History in Robb Walsh's Tex Mex Cookbook, the first Molina's was at 1919 W Gray in 1941.  In that same year, apparently, the family took over the Mexico City Restaurant on South Main, which had been open since 1929.  No specific address on S. Main and the term probably referred to a different stretch of the street than it might now.

Address was 3916 Main Street, or given the time period, 3916 South Main Street.

From 1945:

Old Monterrey
Restaurant No. 1
1911 W. Gray Ave. __ Ph. J. 2-0217

Mexico City
Restaurant
3916 Main St. __ Ph. H. 0019

Old Monterrey
1723 Bissonnet Ave. __ Ph. J. 2-0247

"The Best Mexican Food In Town"
Raul (Ray) Molina, Owner

From 1953:

The Best Mexican Food In Town
Mexico City Restaurant
Ray Molina and Sons, Owners
3916 Main St.  / Phone LI-0019
Houston, Texas

Edit:

Here's an advertisement that specifically said South Main. 1955.

3916 S. Main Street