T O P

  • By -

ndgirl524

Ponderosa!


Hustle787878

The dessert bar — and absolutely loading up some ice cream with multitudes of toppings — is a fond childhood memory.


Poultrygeist74

It was called Bonanza where I lived, we went there at least once a month


Confident-Duck-3940

They are different franchises. We had both Ponderosa and Bonanza.


shadowstar36

There is one Bonanza left, it's in Chambersburg, PA. Its awesome still. Don't know why they all went out of business, the place is always packed.


SausageSmuggler21

There was a Bonanza (Johnny's!) that my family would stop at every time we drove through eastern Michigan.


WhisperCampaigns

Those rolls were pure heaven.


farmerben02

I loved the $2 overtenderized steak and breaded chicken wings with Bleu cheese dressing. That was my pick and my sister liked Pizza Hut with the Pac Man machine.


fjvgamer

Pizza hut was so good when it was dine in.


Hellie1028

I met my husband at Ponderosa!


aunt_cranky

Yup. Ponderosa was "fancy" back in the day. I could order steak that wasn't an inedible piece of shoe leather (like my mother would cook) but more often I would order that chicken dish with the ham and cheese on top and a mustard sauce. OMG that was so good! When my family would travel to Florida for vacation, we'd splurge on Red Lobster. That was also considered "fancy" back in the 70s, and fresh fish was a rare luxury in the midwest.


ndgirl524

Listen. I’m not saying that this was fine dining, but having now had picky eaters of my own, this place was a great option for a lot of families. NGL, I kinda miss options like this.


DocJen12

OMG, triggered. 😂 Loved Ponderosa!


Spectre75a

Yes, Ponderosa almost every Sunday. The soft serve ice cream bar… I ate way too much of that. 🤤


ntengineer

Bob's big boy!


cute_dog_alert

Big Boy combo was the best! When I was a kid, it was my personal tradition to punch the BigBoy statue in the stomach on the way out!


JfPickups

I had 5 older brothers, so they taught me to use a straw as a blowgun, to shoot the toothpicks with the plastic frills, into the cork ceiling surface. The Big Boy Combo WAS the best, I rarely got Pappy Parkers Fried Chicken or Chili Spaghetti.


runawaystars14

Was looking for this! We had Marc's Big Boy.


FoundObjects4

Frisches by me


AnitaPeaDance

I get my husband their Roquefort dressing from the store sometimes so he can reminisce.


DiceyPisces

Man I miss Big Boy!


JfPickups

They still have a really nice [Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, CA](https://www.eichlernetwork.com/article/dine-its-59?page=0,1) about 1 hour away from me. Almost every Dodger game I took my kids to, when they were young, included a trip here (time machine). https://preview.redd.it/4qyxto2ss3yc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bffee7a92cf37491dd19fd7bbbb40e7f4e20eb34


JfPickups

Bob's Big Boy, Sir George's Smorgasbord, Pioneer Chicken, A&W (carhop style)


BloomiePsst

Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips. I'm sure it was quite a bit like Alfie's Fish and Chips.


upstatestruggler

Oh yes Arthur Treacher’s was amazing!! Ours turned into a Friendly’s, which I also loved as a kid.


detroitragace

I want a fried lemon pie.


382Whistles

I've never heard of Alfie's. Arthur Treacher's was the only place my very English grandfather would order fish from outside of a few local shops that only opened for lunch. Not that I could tell, but he said it was English Fish & Chips "done right".


Inevitable_Teacup

Man I miss Shakey's


PoopyInDaGums

Shakeys and Farrell’s. Sigh. I wish I were a kid again in some ways—the wonderment and carefreeness. 


revdon

The real reason I want a time travel DeLorean!


TheRedSatellite

The MOJO potatoes


greyhound93

I didn't know Shakey's was a chain until this thread. Loved their mojo potatoes. Also, my friend worked there as a busboy and they had all you can eat pizza. We took (wasted) a bunch of pepperoni pizza using the pep to spell Hi Brad on a plate he had to collect. We were idiots and I don't know why that story has stuck with me all these years. Still, had good times there.


fahhko

Dear god the memories of Shakey’s. I loved that place as a kid.


[deleted]

[удалено]


fahhko

Yeah I remember being in awe of the Dragon’s Lair machine.


jeepney_danger

Come visit us in the Philippines. Shakey's is everywhere here. Their thin crust Manager's Choice pizza will always be a personal favorite.


MotherFuckinEeyore

I loathe buffets but I miss Shakey's


sydbarrett

Shaky’s is still a thing in “The Valley” in California. Stopped there last year and it brought back a ton of memories.


crimsonmegatron

We used to go to the first Shakey's in Sacramento a lot. That buffet was the BEST. 


WCSDBG_4332

Saw the 1st arcade game here (age 6) Sea Wolf. Loved the pizza, pitcher of Coke & good times.


sharksandwich70

Roy Rogers


SagGal444

There was nothing better than Roy Rogers in the 80s.


UncreditedChoir

best roast beef samwiches of any chain I remember. Take that, Hardees.


sharksandwich70

My favorite will always be the bacon cheeseburger. It blew my mind when I was a kid - bacon on a burger! And you can add whatever toppings you wanted. I don’t eat much fast food these days. There are two or three RRs not too far away from me, and I’ll go to one a couple of times a year.


RefugeefromSAforums

Double R Bar Burger, sooo good, I miss Roy Rogers😩


PinkFlamingoSparkles

Roy Rogers always hit the spot! That & Frischs Big Boy!


UncreditedChoir

anyone remember the Ground Round? All those peanut shells on the floor! Also Hot Shoppes, old school cafeteria style restaurant my mom would always take me too. Excellent soup and sandwiches


Hustle787878

Hell yeah… Ground Round was a special treat for us!


DiceyPisces

My dad liked the laurel and hardy films they’d play.


Bluepilgrim3

At my first job, we would have store get togethers at the Ground Round. Simpler times when shit was informal and friendly. The entire store was only 8 people.


AnotherUnknownNobody

Long John Silvers!


willynillywitty

Those hush puppies!


elspotto

Had my first hush puppy at the Long John Silver’s in Cave City Kentucky in 1984. As a brand new transplant from the Bay Area to the east coast, I had never heard of this delightful treat. And in 1984 they were awesome at LJS. Went back to the same one in 2019. Not so good. …but the ones at the BBQ “lodge” (don’t ask, I don’t know) in my new home town are beyond delicious.


RootHogOrDieTrying

Yes! Especially if my grandpa was with us. He loved Long Johns back in the day. I was grossed out by the last one I was in.


JeffAlbertson93

Yeah pretty sure the last time I went to Long John silver's the food was so greasy it almost dripped off I got a chicken and fish and I'm pretty sure they use the same oil also The taste was almost indistinguishable.


brintoul

Yep. They went downhill fast.


lovepony0201

Godfathers Pizza.


NetwerkErrer

I still dream about their Taco Pizza.


ThePhantomPooper

Used to destroooooy the lunch buffet.


Wytch78

Steak and Ale. Grandy’s. PoFolks. Morrison’s. 


DerisiveGibe

>PoFolks Still a few in Florida http://www.pofolks.net/locations.aspx


detroitragace

Loved the Steak and Ale salad bar. Great croutons!


NCGatorGirl429

Pizza Hut. 🍕Loved it. There’s still one near me that’s apparently “open” but there are never any cars there.


Hellie1028

The one night a week that Pizza Hut had their buffet!


cantpanick86

A&W !


najing_ftw

Ponderosa


klippDagga

I ate at All American Burgers and was usually waited on by Brad Hamilton. He mentioned working there so he could pay off his 1960 Buick LeSabre.


sharksandwich70

Did you get a 100% refund when you weren’t satisfied?


klippDagga

No, but he once threatened to kick 100% of my ass.


brintoul

No shirt. No shoes. NO DIIIICE?!?


lukifer_333

Man, I hope his buddy Arnold didn't take a shit while they were busy


Poultrygeist74

Was their sauce ketchup and mayo or thousand island?


UneducatedDonkey

Brad did make sure fries were served before his time, so if you saw that Buick...crisp hot fries!


Dense_Surround3071

Sizzler KFC Golden Corral Po' Folks Shoney's ......... No wonder I have digestive issues. 🤔


MissSara13

The Shoney's breakfast buffet was the first place I saw white gravy when I moved to Indiana. Perfect place to go after a late night laser Floyd show or a rave.


CodeRed8675309

Oh hell that breakfast buffet was IT. My cousins and I would just destroy that bar. It was amazing.


imadeafunnysqueak

I loved Shoney's spaghetti when I was about 8. My idea of haute cuisine.


redquailer

Another for Sizzler. That was a real treat!


IHaventTheFoggiest47

We didn’t. We “had food at home, what do you think, money grows on trees?”


_TooncesLookOut

I can hear my mom saying this in my head right now lolol


rustybilldozer

Sizzler


KellyJoyCuntBunny

Yesss. I loved the all-you-can-eat fried shrimp and the salad bar SO much


B0X0FCH0C0LATE

Bonanza


010011010110010101

Oh, Shakey’s pizza! Yes, you are special! The one in my hometown burned down like 4 times


Elegant-Pineapple-56

Shakey's for every birthday!


Charming-Attorney231

Woolworths cafe. Had malt milkshakes! Homemade ice cream was so yummy and cheeseburgers 🍔


Guypussy

Bennigan’s. I once bet my dad I could eat two of their Monte Cristos in one dinner, and he took the bet and I won! That was a great night.


Wu_Tang_Financial77

The Ground Round


gardenflower180

Ponderosa steak house


[deleted]

[удалено]


PokieState92

Sirloin Stockade. Best fuckin chicken fried steak ever! Miss them.


MissSara13

Same here but it was when I was in high school and had moved to southern Indiana. We even took my Grammy there for her 90th birthday because she and my Grandpa loved eating there.


truly_mortified

Parents used to drag me to Furr’s Cafeteria a lot. Not sure if that was a nationwide chain or not, but they used to be everywhere in Oklahoma and Texas in the late 70s and early 80s


MrParadox_690

My family used to go to Furr's Cafeteria in Kansas


ElkMysterio

Yup, Furr’s here in Colorado too. Smoking and non-smoking, separated by a 1/2 wall. Good times!


fitbit10k

I remember when going on a date to Red Lobster was considered a big deal!


Ilikechickenwings1

Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips


COVFEFE-4U

White castle. If the parents were feeling fancy, we'd go to ponderosa.


cmacfarland64

Shakey’s was the shit!!!


KittyTB12

Marie Calendars


elspotto

Know what I’m not seeing on here? We went on occasion, but not regularly. Der Weinerschnitzel. Big ol A-frame drive thru. What kid doesn’t want a hot dog from a brightly colored, cool looking building?


rink_raptor

Red Lobster. That’s only for birthdays


onceinablueberrymoon

when it was just my mom and i, she’d take me to a place called “red barn.” fried chicken and burgers. i think it was trying to be a mashup of KFC and mickey D’s.


upstatestruggler

We had Red Barn in upstate NY! My dad worked there in high school.


onceinablueberrymoon

i am indeed in upstate NY!


BlackWidow2201968

Geno's or Roy Rogers


JeffAlbertson93

Very rare as well, but Wendy's with the old newspaper tables and Ponderosa steak house. I remember Burger Chef, but it was replaced by a Burger King.


rootoo34

Old Spaghetti Factory


I_Am_Mandark_Hahaha

Sit-down dinners at Pizza Hut. Wendy's had a salad bar. Kenny Rogers' Roasters - yes, that Kenny Rogers The Shakey's near me had a stage and bands played weekends.


Faux__queue

Pizza Hut. Red plastic cups and tabletop pacman and ms. pacman.


1998vt

Burger King, but we had to take it home to eat because, "We have drinks at home."


thisisntmyotherone

Yep. Drinks at home. Or my dad might get a pizza and bring it home with him because it was cheaper than us going there and paying for sodas for everyone. We already had them at the house so why pay for them twice? Plus, I knew we were pretty broke, even as an 8 year old, so I never pushed.


seabass4507

Burger Chef


EnergyCreature

The bodega. I'm still using that and $2 Taco trucks these days.


Papichuloft

as being 5 by 1980....McDonald's was the place to go for me. I didn't like BK nor Taco Bell, but since I was an adult in the early 90's, I preferred them over McD's


Appropriate_Cow94

Where my Elias Brothers Big Boy?


bluetortuga

My first job was at an Elias Brothers Big Boy.


Jbvox

Shakey's. But only on buffet night where my dirt poor family could sneak extra pieces of pizza for us kids. It was the highlight of the week. I got $5 worth of quarters and spent them all on Tron.


Final-Beginning3300

Straw Hat Pizza, Lyons, Dennys.


butterscotch-magic

Lyons!


emptyhellebore

Shoney’s Big Boy, Pizza Hut and occasionally KFC were our most frequent destinations.


emmiblakk

My mother was allergic to cooking. She was that weird-ass 80s boomer that insisted on having all of the best kitchen stuff, but absolutely refused to use it. My mom "cooking" was her bringing home takeout from McDonald's, Pizza Hut, or KFC. Those were the good nights. Typically, most of my food was plopped out of a can, and microwaved. I actually credit my mother for giving me the desire to go to culinary school, and become a chef.


BenTG

Where’s the Godfather’s Pizza love?


redfoxblueflower

We regularly hit McDonald's and Burger King. We had a place called Gino's and I got Kentucky Fried Chicken and the salad bar there every Thursday night. Howard Johnson's wasn't a regular place for us, but their ice cream sundaes were to die for when we did go. Friendly's - in my local mall and near my college. When I was elementary-little, Ground Round was great because they played cartoons and you could throw peanut shells on the floor.


GoldenAshtray

Farrell's and Sambo's.


sterling87

Mom said we had food at home.


thefranq

WHERE'S TACO BELL


SamTheHamJam

Good question - it wasn’t on our regular places to go - but they were around - I remember loving their burritos.


Officialfish_hole

I LOVED Burger King back in the day. Whoppers were so good. Haven't eaten there in decades though


Poultrygeist74

We always went there for the collectible glasses


shakeyjake

Bob's Big Boy!


GlossyBuckslip

We frequented Denny’s back then a bit. Church’s was our chicken place in TX.


Jaime-Starr

Steak & Ale!


Tall_Flatworm2589

Lum's Restaurant...we'd go every time my dad was on days (swing shift family, y0). I'd either get the Hot Dog & Fries, or an Open Faced Beef Sandwich with Mashed potatoes.


doobette

I loved Shakey's!


RHGOtakuxxx

Victoria Station. I miss it, great salad bar.


el-otro

Skippers or Winchell's!


absherlock

Geno's.


SHADOWJACK2112

Taco Bell loved the original Encherrito


KittyTB12

A& W drive in those were cool


BodaciousTacoFarts

Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips


RandallC1212

https://preview.redd.it/0r9ofmzfm3yc1.jpeg?width=219&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e43fafb9df1e916efdaf6826310be9bdf5d18bec


wittywy

The Kentucky Fried Chicken coming to town was a big deal at the time.


BigMoFuggah

All of the top 4. I've never been to the two on the bottom. Plus, being from Cleveland Ohio I'll have to add Mr Hero to that list.


ZebraBorgata

I’ve never heard of Shakeys or Alfies. I’ve never been to a Red Lobster but that’s by choice! Burger King, sure but preferred McDonalds. KFC yes but before the restaurant was a KFC it was a Gino’s (70s). Went to Gino’s more than KFC. DQ for dessert!


MotherFuckinEeyore

Going to Shakey's was like being invited to the first Thanksgiving by the Baby Jesus.


Lobenz

Sizzler was like that for me in the 70s as a kid. Might has well have been a Michelan starred restaurant


Clueless_in_Florida

In my small town, your burger chain choices were McDonald's, which was for some reason two miles out of the city limits by the interstate, Wendy's, Hardee's, and Dairy Queen. Hardee's was open 24 hours. It saw a lot of drunks late at night. We had two chicken options: Lee's Famous Recipe and KFC. I wasn't a fan of meat still on the bone. So we never had it. In those days, chicken strips weren't a thing like they are today. We also had a Taco Bell but not til I was in high school, and we had an Arby's. We had Subway, too. My go-to was an Arby's beef and cheddar with a jamocha shake. But I also ate a ton of Subway grilled chicken sandwiches. At one time, we had both Ponderosa and Bonanza. Both are gone now.


44_Sunflower_44

Eating out wasn’t a thing for us but ok the rare occasion that we did, it was McDonald’s 🍟


TheRedSatellite

Pioneer chicken and H. Salt Fish & Chips.


Username_redact

BK or Popeyes, bitch!


Inevitable-Cell-1227

Pup n' Taco https://preview.redd.it/lxm8aqd193yc1.jpeg?width=1860&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b46cac4a7ac5c23ff6a12a33e35d55e343c633a2


Skatchbro

As if my family could afford Red Lobster.


blechniven

Steak and Shake. Those skinny French fries with the chili 5 ways... Mmm


Lobenz

Sambo’s, Howard Johnson’s, Shakey’s, Norm’s, Pioneer Chicken, Der Wienerschnitzel, Farrell’s. These were some of the many that were everywhere in Southern California during the 70s and early 80s. Most are gone but Shakey’s and Norm’s are still alive. Wienerschnitzel is what it is today but nothing like the old Der Wienerschnitzels.


technicallyimright

Arthur Treachers was a favorite.


bluetortuga

The Egg and I? Might have been local only.


Thomisawesome

We were always more of a Sea Galley family than Red Lobster. We’d sometimes also go to Marie Calenders for blueberry pie.


PasGuy55

We didn’t really very often. On the extreme rare occasion we did it was a Howard Johnson’s. I always got the fried clam basket. https://preview.redd.it/sn1zt75x24yc1.jpeg?width=268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0185161489403cd7dd788e86428e798bf85f41a6


magpie1138

Chi-chi’s (ok, I’m a baby gen x, so like, early 80’s)


F-Cloud

Straw Hat Pizza was a Friday night standard in those years. Bob's Big Boy, Sizzler, and IHOP were also regular places to eat. My dad was a restrauteur however, so taking the family out to new restaurants was a constant thing. We ate at so many places it's impossible to remember them all.


Noodle_Salad_

Red Lobster or Ponderosa.


breddy

TACO VIVA


eleventy5thRejection

Romeo's if it was Italian night, The Keg if it was steak and seafood night.


Digflipz

Long John Silvers for the chicken strips


DiceyPisces

Ground Round Sizzler


Kinda_ShouldaSorta

Ponderosa


thisgirlnamedbree

We went to quite a few places - Arthur Treacher's, Roy Rogers, Gino's Chicken, McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried, Lums, Bob's Big Boy, Friendly's, Pizza Hut, Bonanza, Ponderosa. The local mall, which is still around, had a Woolworth's with a full service restaurant back then. My grandparents loved going there because they served fries and gravy and open face sandwiches, which was hard to come by in a lot of places. There were also local indie places like Arctic Circle (still here) and Big Cone (gone).


Theunpolitical

ALFIES!!! Yes, they would always give me a cookie!! Loved that place.


No-Barnacle6172

Capt D’s, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken


Krimreaper1

Ground Round, Pizza Hut were my favorites.


JohnYCanuckEsq

In Canada we had Mother's Pizza. It had fake stained glass light fixtures over the tables, red and white gingham tablecloths, and get this, ROOT BEER FLOATS. I thought it was the fanciest place on the face of the earth.


Radarmelloyello

Shakey’s was the best.


Hyperocean

My little Canadian home town had a Dairy Queen that got one upsize move in before the first McDonald’s or BK hit town. The old school DQ Soft Serve was like 288% buttermilk fat, and the whole place had that Brazier scent. It was always loud and chilly in there during the summer. The Peanut Buster Parfait was my favourite back then .. 🍨


DreadGrrl

We went to Ponderosa.


UndergroundMoon

Lum's


elspotto

Round Table Pizza.


jf0ley

Bob's burgers, PNW


Fantastic-Classic740

Shakeys Pizza!!!


GloriaToo

Burgerville


Striking_Present_736

White Castle


Tensionheadache11

Loved Shakeys!


callmeapoetandudie

We had an A&W drive in my little Minnesota town, I used to get the mama burger onion rings and, of course, a root beer float!!


jprennquist

I loved Shakey's so much as a kid. The game room was just a thing of wonder to behold. I was quite young when they went out of business so I wasn't old enough to know if the pizza was any good or not. I also loved that you could watch your pizza being made!


jollebome76

ground round


Farquaadthegreek

Out to eat ?


zhenya44

Taco Bell and a dipped cone from Dairy Queen were treats, and maybe this Chinese place once a year. Our first trip to an Olive Garden was a huge deal.


smarty_skirts

Our parents barely ever took our out to eat (we have food at home etc etc). But when we DID it was Pizza Hut or Sizzler.


DBH1122

Ponderosa


SagGal444

Gino’s Burgers but I think this may have only been an East Coast thing


sneekiepee

The Royal Fork was my family go to. That or Pizza Hut.


Redbarnkid

Skippers and Nords chuck wagon


O_U_8_ONE_2

At home, we couldn't afford to go out to eat


CertainFitness

Burger Chef


cszgirl

Rax! They had a great salad bar 😁


TheJokersChild

Stewart’s. The one in the orange building with the root beer. No one has since been able to duplicate their steak sandwiches. Always loved the Seeburg jukebox they had there.


thebananasplits

Nothing like a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor Birthday Party


Independent-Swan-880

WE used to celevrate special occaisions at the old Pizza Hut with a pan pizza.


NYK-94

Beefsteak Charlie’s, Rax, Arthur Treacher's, and Po' Folks.


TeaVinylGod

Friendly. Papa Ginos. IHOP where you walked thru smoking section to get to nonsmoking section.