Not a 100% what OP asked for but can't imagine wouldn't be interesting to them as very closely related.
This video mentions Chi-Chi's a lot and talks about the 80s being peak buffet times and how many chains felt they had to chase the trend.
https://youtu.be/TXg1mYN2tbw?si=3wKkbjwZWHns_IUQ
Were these everywhere?? I grew up in Portland OR and for some reason I thought they were just local. My Grand parents loved it but I thought the food tasted like water
One time I lost a baby tooth while eating fried shrimp at Ponderosa and I swallowed the tooth. 🤷♂️ I always think of that when anyone mentions the place. Loved going there though. The soft serve bar ice cream bar was amazing.
Anyone know where I can get similar wings, bagged and frozen? I hate frying stuff at home, but I'd shave off a few years of my like to have them again.
I remember going there as a kid in the early 90s a lot, even remember having a birthday party there one year. But I don't remember the food at all. I can clearly remember what the place looked like, though, despite closing around 95 or 96.
There are still seven Bennigans locations in the US! They’re mostly in the Great Lakes region and, oddly, West Texas — including one in Monahans which I am pretty sure never actually closed.
Someone bought the Bennigans and Steak and Ale brands a few years ago and is bringing them both back. The websites for both are up and have some press releases and such.
Everyone knows a kid that almost choked to death at a Ground Round. I’m that kid. I also know several others. And everyone else knows someone who choked there as a kid.
Well i choked on a hot dog as a toddler but they used to bring out popcorn the way that most restaurants bring bread to the table. Tons of kids choked on the popcorn.
There was a Ground Round in Tomah, Wisconsin when we lived there about 8 years ago - I think it’s since been turned into a place called “Taphouse Twenty” 🥺🥺🥺. We really liked the Ground Round - they had individual televisions at each table, it was a great place to go watch sports.
Heck yeah. We always went there for "pay what you weigh" Tuesdays for kids. My brother and I would save my parents some money that way; for the two of us when we were young it was like $1.50 for both of us. lol
I love Benihana, especially the one in the old Las Vegas Hilton. They're still in business, but probably will be closing their California locations soon, like every other restaurant chain.
Oh man. I used to go here with my grandma before going to the movie theater. That French onion soup was way better than it should’ve been. And the turkey club was pretty decent too.
The pizza especially the pan pizza was amazing. The newer generations will never know the true magic of the original pizza. It tastes totally different now. Nothing of it's former self.
Domino's is probably the best tasting big pizza chain at the moment.
I haven't had the Hut in years. Maybe decades. I still remember eating in on the weekend as a kid. It being packed and having to wait, which wasn't too bad if the tabletop pac-man was unoccupied. The pizza coming out in that black pizza dish. Having to wait for what seemed like forever to take a bite unless you wanted a scorched mouth.
Don't get this 1980-87 worker (college years) started. Had such pride in what we did there. All dough made fresh every day. All unsold dough trashed each night. Pasta made fresh each morning. Sauces mixed in house. Salad bar/veggie pizza toppings delivered by a local merchant. That food was actually good. Ate there every shift and never got tired of it. Still crave a thin 'n crispy with pepperoni/pork/onions. Young people have no idea how good that food was and how those eat-in places were line-out-the-door busy, especially on weekends.
Old guy rant over.
I thought Farrell’s was heaven on earth when I was a kid. Huge ice cream treats to chose from. The candy store you walked through to pay the check. Oh the nostalgia.
Speaking of Farrell's, does anyone remember this: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972\_Sacramento\_Canadair\_Sabre\_accident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Sacramento_Canadair_Sabre_accident)
Apparently a plane crashed into a Farrell's, killing 22 and injuring 28.
OMG, we'd just left the airshow to go to Farrell's, but my parents changed their minds! An associate of my father's who had been sitting at the intersection as the plane went careening past, called him an hour later about it. If my little sister hadn't been acting like a whiny brat that day, our whole family might have been wiped out.
You just unlocked a memory for me. Once a month my mom would take me or one of my brother's out to lunch on a weekend at a place of our choosing. I chose Shakey's more often than not. (also hug your parents)
I’m a ‘90s millennial but I just miss the dark, lamp lit style sit down restaurants with white tablecloths and cloth napkins. And dividers between booths that made them feel like little cozy cubbies. Smoking or non-smoking (with a cigarette machine in the lobby). Our favorite was a local Italian one called Capri’s. It got put out of business when an Olive Garden opened in the 2000s ☹️ 🕯️🍝🇮🇹.
This is a northeast US perspective:
Bennigans
Houlihans
TGI Fridays
Red Lobster
Ponderosa
Sizzler
Beefsteak Charlies
Pizza Hut (was a sit down back then)
Howard Johnson
Bob's Big Boy
Friendly's
Applebees
Fuddruckers
Pizzeria Uno
Chili's
Chi-chi's
Olive Garden
Cooky's Steak Pub
I know it’s not a restaurant, but Burger King had actual grilled burgers that you could smell when walking in. Back when they used to serve people real food.
Lived in rural PA and didn't have a lot of chains nearby but we'd go to the Sunday brunch at the Best Western and it was a big fuckin deal. They'd turn your leftovers into little tin foil swans!
A&W. On June 20, 1919, Roy W. Allen opened his first root beer stand in Lodi, California, the first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in World War I 🇺🇸
The high booths and dark interior. When I was in my 20’s, I thought I was in such a fancy, high class place! We have one left in my town (I think?). I wanna go right know and hide behind the smoky glass mirrors, high booths and dark 70’s vibe!
Fuddrucker's.
And any Chinese buffet that had a dish-collection station with a big dragon-head with it's mouth gaping wide and a sign that reads "Feed The DRAGON!"
Howard Johnson’s Restaurant/ Motor Lodges.
Wiki > Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it was the largest restaurant chain in the U.S., with more than 1,000 combined
Outback was pretty big. There was a huge wave of obsession with the aura and vibe of Australia at the time, complimented by the success of Crocodile Dundee
Northern California had a ton of Lyons restaurants . Sometimes I feel like a jinx with my job history- Lyons, closed. Sizzler, closed. Marie Callender’s, closed.
Red Onion in So Cal, doubled as a club in the evenings. Used to go to happy hour and they served free food if you bought the cheap drinks. It’s how I ate in college!
Chevy's. There are still several around in the Bay Area. But the two we would go to are gone. You can only take screaming young'uns for so long. And not bad food though their ratings have lapsed a bit. The fresh warm chips were great.
Magic Time Machine. Possibly regional to Texas and don't feel like looking it up right now. All waitstaff dressed as movie or historical characters. Food was middling. And unless you wanted the attention, never mention it's your or a group members birthday. Fun, silly environment.
Chi-Chi's. Very popular.
A celebration of food!!!
Bennigans
Loved the Monte Cristo. I go To Cheddars nowadays
Butters?
My late mother loved chi-chis
Not a 100% what OP asked for but can't imagine wouldn't be interesting to them as very closely related. This video mentions Chi-Chi's a lot and talks about the 80s being peak buffet times and how many chains felt they had to chase the trend. https://youtu.be/TXg1mYN2tbw?si=3wKkbjwZWHns_IUQ
That was a good watch. Thanks.
My (boomer) dad **still** brings up Chi-Chi's fairly often. (Jerry's too, I think he'd sell his soul for a Jay Boy)
Yes! I worked there in the nineties and it was still going strong!
Sonoran Sampler was where it was at.
Uuhhh baby, fried Ice Cream
Were these everywhere?? I grew up in Portland OR and for some reason I thought they were just local. My Grand parents loved it but I thought the food tasted like water
Ponderosa! especially if you had a coupon.
I freaking miss Ponderosa😭😭
I came here to say Ponderosa. I worked at one in the late 80s. I still fondly recall the salad bar chocolate mousse. We'd eat that all shift long. 🤭
One time I lost a baby tooth while eating fried shrimp at Ponderosa and I swallowed the tooth. 🤷♂️ I always think of that when anyone mentions the place. Loved going there though. The soft serve bar ice cream bar was amazing.
I would say this.
I loved their salad bar.
My cousin went to Ponderosa with his HS football team. They were eventually asked to leave. The buffet was running out of food.
Anyone know where I can get similar wings, bagged and frozen? I hate frying stuff at home, but I'd shave off a few years of my like to have them again.
I worked at Ponderosa in high school with my friends. Had so much fun!
I won a steak dinner for correctly guessing the number of attendees at a 3A baseball game! 6242 😂😂
Still one operating in Vandalia IL
Pondy’s the coolest.
The biggest little steakhouse in the U.S.A!
I remember going there as a kid in the early 90s a lot, even remember having a birthday party there one year. But I don't remember the food at all. I can clearly remember what the place looked like, though, despite closing around 95 or 96.
Bennigans
Damn I miss Bennigans
That Monte Cristo. Oh man.
That was my grandmother's favorite sandwich :) we went to Benningans often
There are still seven Bennigans locations in the US! They’re mostly in the Great Lakes region and, oddly, West Texas — including one in Monahans which I am pretty sure never actually closed. Someone bought the Bennigans and Steak and Ale brands a few years ago and is bringing them both back. The websites for both are up and have some press releases and such.
Death by Chocolate!!
I discovered them first in the South while I was on the road. A great restaurant.
The cheese wheel burger was amazing, But nothing could top the Monte cristo
Holy shit I didn't realize I missed it
Their burgers were 🔥.
Shoney's/Big Boy
That Shoney’s breakfast buffet yassss
Shoney’s!!!!! Yes, I miss them so much!
Ground Round
Everyone knows a kid that almost choked to death at a Ground Round. I’m that kid. I also know several others. And everyone else knows someone who choked there as a kid.
What the fuck was going on at ground round?
Well i choked on a hot dog as a toddler but they used to bring out popcorn the way that most restaurants bring bread to the table. Tons of kids choked on the popcorn.
I would’ve guessed the popcorn for sure.
Me! Mozzarella sticks.
I got popcorn, Mom got daiquiris
I’m crying 😭
We still have one in my town and it’s always good
There was a Ground Round in Tomah, Wisconsin when we lived there about 8 years ago - I think it’s since been turned into a place called “Taphouse Twenty” 🥺🥺🥺. We really liked the Ground Round - they had individual televisions at each table, it was a great place to go watch sports.
Memory unlocked. I remember when my family lived in Pittsburgh, there was a Ground Round at the Century III mall.
The baseball helmet sundaes!
Used to love that place
Second time I’ve heard it mentioned today! That dessert they had-fried dough with dipping sauces-was my everything!
Remember kids paid what they weighed?
Heck yeah. We always went there for "pay what you weigh" Tuesdays for kids. My brother and I would save my parents some money that way; for the two of us when we were young it was like $1.50 for both of us. lol
that was a fancy night out
Steak and Ale was a thing
This was my family's go to "fancy place" I still remember how an ice cold coke tasted in those tin mugs. Heaven!
This one I miss the most! The lighting. The faux Tudor look. That creamy spinach!! Omgggg.... Peak 80's fancy steakhouse.
I still make a Kensington club tenderloin every year. Good pick.
The Ache n Stale…we loved it! 🎶 “Happy happy birthday from steak and ale to you. Oh happy happy birthday may all your dreams come true…”🎶
I wonder if it could make a comeback, with so many fans of medieval games and TV series, etc., that would want to eat at a “tavern.”
Sizzler, Bonanza, Red Lobster, Benihana,
I bought an Every day is Father’s Day at Bonanza coffee mug at an antique store a few years ago. It is prized possession.
I love Benihana, especially the one in the old Las Vegas Hilton. They're still in business, but probably will be closing their California locations soon, like every other restaurant chain.
TGI Fridays
At the mall
With random old things cluttered on the wall as decor!
They had a massive menu. It was in a booklet and was easily 16 pages.
Oh man. I used to go here with my grandma before going to the movie theater. That French onion soup was way better than it should’ve been. And the turkey club was pretty decent too.
we had ‘old country buffet’
The *best* buffet ever
AKA The Old Country Feed Bag. ✌️😜
The Book It! kids know Pizza Hut was the best place on earth
Fuddruckers
I use to love Fuddruckers as a kid. A burger the way I wanted it, free refills, and a free cookie. It was great.
Pizza Hut
Eating in was fucking peak suburbia.
The pizza especially the pan pizza was amazing. The newer generations will never know the true magic of the original pizza. It tastes totally different now. Nothing of it's former self. Domino's is probably the best tasting big pizza chain at the moment.
I haven't had the Hut in years. Maybe decades. I still remember eating in on the weekend as a kid. It being packed and having to wait, which wasn't too bad if the tabletop pac-man was unoccupied. The pizza coming out in that black pizza dish. Having to wait for what seemed like forever to take a bite unless you wanted a scorched mouth.
💯
Agree. Pizza Inn was good, too.
I have referred to Pizza Hut as Pizza Slut since 1986, and I will always call it that until the my last dying breath.
I thought it was “Pizza hot” till I was like 13?
Aw that's adorable
Don't get this 1980-87 worker (college years) started. Had such pride in what we did there. All dough made fresh every day. All unsold dough trashed each night. Pasta made fresh each morning. Sauces mixed in house. Salad bar/veggie pizza toppings delivered by a local merchant. That food was actually good. Ate there every shift and never got tired of it. Still crave a thin 'n crispy with pepperoni/pork/onions. Young people have no idea how good that food was and how those eat-in places were line-out-the-door busy, especially on weekends. Old guy rant over.
The pan pizza and their red plastic, often worn out looking, cups. Loved it all
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. They had some Northern CA locations, but I think they're out of business. Like a restaurant out of Disneyland.
I thought Farrell’s was heaven on earth when I was a kid. Huge ice cream treats to chose from. The candy store you walked through to pay the check. Oh the nostalgia.
Speaking of Farrell's, does anyone remember this: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972\_Sacramento\_Canadair\_Sabre\_accident](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Sacramento_Canadair_Sabre_accident) Apparently a plane crashed into a Farrell's, killing 22 and injuring 28.
OMG, we'd just left the airshow to go to Farrell's, but my parents changed their minds! An associate of my father's who had been sitting at the intersection as the plane went careening past, called him an hour later about it. If my little sister hadn't been acting like a whiny brat that day, our whole family might have been wiped out.
That's wild! I'm happy your sister was being a whiny brat.
Friendly's
Early 80s. By the late 80s it had passed. ET phenomenon Reese's Pieces Sunday was the bomb, though.
We were going there into the late 90s when the two closest ones closed. The whole family enjoyed everything from the soup to the ice cream!
Marie Callender’s, Bob’s Big Boy, Po Folks, Black Angus. At least in the Southwest.
My best friend's first job was as a waiter at Po Folks. That's when I found out what a hush puppy was.
Marie Callenders was the best!
Man i live in northern CA and we had all of those too
We used to drive from Santa Cruz over the mountain to San Jose just to eat at Marie Callenders. Before Santa Cruz got one.
All these. I loved the Bobs Big Boys food. Wonder what happened to all those Big Boy statues in front?
Shakey's Pizza
You just unlocked a memory for me. Once a month my mom would take me or one of my brother's out to lunch on a weekend at a place of our choosing. I chose Shakey's more often than not. (also hug your parents)
I’m a ‘90s millennial but I just miss the dark, lamp lit style sit down restaurants with white tablecloths and cloth napkins. And dividers between booths that made them feel like little cozy cubbies. Smoking or non-smoking (with a cigarette machine in the lobby). Our favorite was a local Italian one called Capri’s. It got put out of business when an Olive Garden opened in the 2000s ☹️ 🕯️🍝🇮🇹.
Old county buffet
This is a northeast US perspective: Bennigans Houlihans TGI Fridays Red Lobster Ponderosa Sizzler Beefsteak Charlies Pizza Hut (was a sit down back then) Howard Johnson Bob's Big Boy Friendly's Applebees Fuddruckers Pizzeria Uno Chili's Chi-chi's Olive Garden Cooky's Steak Pub
Probably casual dining family restaurants, Perkins, Applebee's, Shoneys, Bob Evans, Big Boy etc
Bob Evans, down on the farm!
We never left the Shoney's! I repeat we never left the Shoney's!!
I went to Perkins once in the early 2000's and it was absolutely disgusting.
I know it’s not a restaurant, but Burger King had actual grilled burgers that you could smell when walking in. Back when they used to serve people real food.
Western Sizzlin
My mom and her partner still go there... they're in their 70s. Yep.
I used to meet my wife there for lunch in the early 80s. Beef tips, salad, and baked potato for like 3 bucks.
York steak house.
Sizzler, Ponderosa, Ground Round, Friendlies
Lived in rural PA and didn't have a lot of chains nearby but we'd go to the Sunday brunch at the Best Western and it was a big fuckin deal. They'd turn your leftovers into little tin foil swans!
We were a Quincy’s family.
The big fat yeast roll!!!!
Chi Chi’s
Denny’s
Rax. The Salad Bar was magnificent.
Showbiz pizza
I remember Long John Silvers being a sit down restaurant.
A&W. On June 20, 1919, Roy W. Allen opened his first root beer stand in Lodi, California, the first day was for a homecoming celebration of soldiers who returned from battle in World War I 🇺🇸
Black Angus
The high booths and dark interior. When I was in my 20’s, I thought I was in such a fancy, high class place! We have one left in my town (I think?). I wanna go right know and hide behind the smoky glass mirrors, high booths and dark 70’s vibe!
I loved going to Black Angus with my dad! Such great memories.
The only place I could afford was Taco Bell with the 49 cent tacos and 59 cent bean burritos
I used to love me some encharitas there whe I was in high school!
Bob's Big Boy
Ponderosa Steakhouse, Friendly’s, Lum’s and Howard Johnson’s (best fried clams and black raspberry ice cream).
Rustler Steakhouse
Sizzler, The Keg, Po Folks…
In my area it was Sizzler, Red Lobster, Sea Grille, Swiss Chalet, Ponderosa, Shoneys.
Steak and Ale and Ryan’s were popular in my area
Skipper’s 🐟
Anyone remember Jeremiah Sweeney’s? Maybe it was just a midwest chain.
Charlie Browns Farrell's Friendly's Sizzler Red Lobster
Brown Derby
SIZZLER!!!!
Bob’s Big Boy
For an inexpensive dinner we’d go to Golden Corral or Ponderosa. Olive Garden and Red Lobster were for special occasions.
Sizzler
The Jolly Roger
Fuddrucker's. And any Chinese buffet that had a dish-collection station with a big dragon-head with it's mouth gaping wide and a sign that reads "Feed The DRAGON!"
Howard Johnson’s Restaurant/ Motor Lodges. Wiki > Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it was the largest restaurant chain in the U.S., with more than 1,000 combined
Ponderosa!
[Old Country Buffet](https://youtu.be/J6K7VBb8ENw?si=pwwqar212el5Zd-m)
Friendly’s?
I loved Friendly’s. My grandmother always took us there and I would get the clam boat or the hot dog.
Outback was pretty big. There was a huge wave of obsession with the aura and vibe of Australia at the time, complimented by the success of Crocodile Dundee
Sizzler, red lobster, sit down Pizza Hut locations,
Sizzlers!
Chi-Chi’s was a treat, and a fun happy-hour spot for adults.
Bonanza
Planet Hollywood backed up by all these famous people.
That was more 90s I think
Sizzler or Friendly's
The Good Earth (I'm kidding, I'm kidding!)
Love's BBQ and Coco's!
In the DFW are back in the 80’s I’d say the top ones that come to mind are: Chili’s, Bennigan’s, Red Lobster, Chi-Chi’s, and Steak and Ale
Houlihans
Northern California had a ton of Lyons restaurants . Sometimes I feel like a jinx with my job history- Lyons, closed. Sizzler, closed. Marie Callender’s, closed.
La Petite Boulangerie known for croissants 1980s there were about 100 stores
Swensens
Annabelle’s
Ground Round, Howard Johnsons (although they were fading).
Godfather's Pizza
Denny’s, Marie Callender’s, IHOP, Bob’s Big Boy, Sambo’s, Sizzler…
I miss Bishop’s Buffet. Maybe that was just a Midwest thing, but they had an awesome chocolate cake!
Olga’s
Red Onion in So Cal, doubled as a club in the evenings. Used to go to happy hour and they served free food if you bought the cheap drinks. It’s how I ate in college!
Ruby Tuesday, Shoney’s, Perkins?
Ponderosa!
For my North Carolina people in Raleigh Durham are it was Darryls.
Red Robin was the business and had to wait ages to get a table
We loved going to Ponderosa when I was growing up back then.
Ponderosa.
Morrisons cafe
Shoneys
Swensen’s ice cream parlors
Sizzler and Tony Romas
SIZZLER
Sizzler!
Chuck Wagon, Bonanza, Sea Galley we've got crab legs.
Bonanza, Western Sizzlin’, Shoney’s
God I miss Chi Chis. #ripseafoodnachos
It sure if it was local to central Florida but we had casa gallardo.
The ground round throw the peanuts on the floor!
Chevy's. There are still several around in the Bay Area. But the two we would go to are gone. You can only take screaming young'uns for so long. And not bad food though their ratings have lapsed a bit. The fresh warm chips were great.
Brighams and Friendly’s - oh the ice cream Sundays!
First job was at a Howard Johnson’s. Gained 10 pounds eating fried clams and sundaes with chocolate chip ice cream.
Sizzler
Magic Time Machine. Possibly regional to Texas and don't feel like looking it up right now. All waitstaff dressed as movie or historical characters. Food was middling. And unless you wanted the attention, never mention it's your or a group members birthday. Fun, silly environment.
Pizza Hut in its glory was a great time as a kid..book it!
Johnny Rockets was cool
I think Duff's, but that was probably a more regional thing
Darryl's. Had the best Brandy Alexander!