I liked Ryan’s more than Golden Corral. Haven’t seen one in awhile though.
OK, how about Piccadilly Cafeteria? There was one by Sharpstown Mall we used to go to.
Allbritton’s Cafeteria 905 Waugh at Gray — good food with Mad Men decor, even in the late 80s…
“Allbritton’s was, by most accounts, Houston’s first cafeteria restaurant, of which precious few remain. And it was a major player in the city’s dining scene at large, helping shape how we eat today with innovative practices such as listing calorie counts on menus.”
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We used to go to the one in the San Jac mall when I was a little kid.
The original Piccadilly Cafeteria was on 3rd St. in Baton Rouge, across the street from the Paramount theater. Once a month my dad would give my sister and I each $2 and drop us off at the Piccadilly. We would go in and each get the fried cod, French fries, red drink, and piece of pie. We would then go across the street to the Paramount for a double feature with serial and cartoons. We would each buy a coke, popcorn, and a candy bar. We would each have a nickel left, we would buy a box of root beer barrels to share with one nickel and save the other to call home.
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Great story and recollection Mike. Thanks for sharing the memories.
It’s funny the things we remember in detail and other things we either forget or barely remember at all. My sister and I would look forward to our monthly treat of the Piccadilly and picture show like kids look forward to Christmas. I was in the second grade and then we moved and it stopped.
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Mike — sounds like the early 60s, correct?
I grew up in NY & back then if my mom gave me a quarter I could buy a soda & a candy bar for 5c each, and a comic book for 10c. Read the comic book for an hour or so and then with the last 5c buy another soda or candy bar or 5 pieces of Bazooka bubble gum, each with a tiny comic in the wrapper. All for 25 cents — and no sales tax back then.
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1953-54
There was a Piccadilly’s in Memorial City for years and it’s been gone for just as long. I only ate there once. I miss York Steakhouse at Memorial City Mall that was located where food court is now.
For around $5 at York Steakhouse one could get a juicy rib-eye steak, baked potato, salad and Texas-sized toast. This was in 1970s and '80s.
Wow Texas Tumbleweed. The greatest reasonably priced chain. There were quit a few in Houston. There was one just outside Austin on one of the hills. Sign still there. The smell was awesome!
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There was a place called Eatzi’s close to the Galleria on Post Oak, which remember being pretty good. It was like a big deli
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I’m feeling nostalgic and am remembering the good time I had at Bernie’s Burger Bus. Gone to restaurant heaven.
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Yes! That place was amazing! They had the best salads, you could pile anything on one. I was sad when it closed down.
Eatzis are all over Dallas. Wonderful. Another original Brinker concept.
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Yep, I remember going to Texas Tumbleweed on FM 1960. And yes, the smell Was awesome.
And it was kinda like being on the set of Hee-Haw. Good memories, thanks for reminding me of that place.
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You are welcome.
I am unsure if this commercial if for the same chain.
Lived in Houston from 1981-85, ate at the Tumbleweed countless times!
I read some sad news today. After almost 70 years, Spanish Village on Almeda will be closing its doors on July 17. Dining by reservation only till then.
Apparently the owners are trying to sell the restaurant, so hopefully someone will step in and continue the tradition.
I was a bit late to the game with Spanish Village, but it’s been one of my favorite Tex Mex restaurants for 10 or 15 years. Great old school Mexican food. I recently tried the new owner’s vegan menu and was absolutely shocked. I got a combo plate (enchiladas, taco, tostada) and it tasted exactly like the “real thing”. Although it was vegan it couldn’t have been healthy, as good as it tasted.
Anyhow, one of you rich guys with too much time on your hands needs to step up to the plate and keep this place going.
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I’ve been going to Spanish Village for 35 years or more, very sad news indeed.
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