Restuarants you never go to any longer, or just went out of business altogether

[tgull]

Generic chain slop that I had once in Denver, filled with fat fucks in Broncos jerseys and visors.

At the end of the meal they brought me a bag full of food that I hadn't ordered; turns out they were running a Druff promotion where they send you home with a bag of the same meal you just ate.

In the 2000s, there was a guy Miri and I got to know who lived in the LA area. Very large guy, a few inches taller than me and overweight, and 100% was on the spectrum. He was very strange and we didn't have much in common with him, but we went for a meal with him every so often just because he was lonely and we wanted to give him some company every so often.

Anyway, he kept insisting we go to Maggiano's in Woodland Hills (San Fernando Valley), repeatedly telling us it was the best Italian food he ever had. I hadn't heard of it, but we went, and it didn't come close to meeting those expectations. Was just okay, like you'd expect of a large chain Italian place. I went a few other times with other people (and once again with him), and every time that was roughly my experience. Not great, not bad, just mediocre and forgettable. Probably has been well over 10 years since I last ate there.

The guy died several years ago in his early 50s. Had a heart attack at home, nobody was around to see it, and that was that.

I went to Maggianos once, and it was surreal. I ordered Chicken Parm, thinking I would get the obvious, a singe chicken breast with cheese and sauce. I was on a date, she ordered just a generic Ziti dish. Literally, I got 3 huge chicken breasts and she got a Ziti dish that could literally feed 4 people. We were like WTF? I asked the waitress what is this, this is an abnormal portion, definitely not what you want on second date. She said they are known for their huge portions and we could bring it home. Well, we are on a date and were going to a bar after dinner to listen to one of those piano guys, there was no opportunity to bring it home. Besides who wants to eat chicken parm the next day anyway? We ate like 20%, it just was unappealing sitting in front of a mound of chicken and a giant bucket of pasta. I don't know if this was par for the course at Maggianos, they are all franchises so maybe it was the owner just doing his own thing.

[tgull]

I am absolutely shocked Fridays is still in business. I went for the first time in years a few months ago, and it was fucking awful. There are only a 100 or so left in the US, I doubt they will last too much longer. It's funny this was the first of these places to go nationwide in the early 70s. The original owner set it up in New York City for the sole purpose of meeting women. He later sold the franchise and started up one of my favorite restaurants in NYC, Smith and Wollensky. Where did the name come from? The owner and his buddy decided to open the place and were hammered one night and opened up a phone book, they opened the book and saw the name Smith. They closed it an reopened it to the Ws and saw the name Wollensky. It's also Warren Buffet's favorite restaurant, he gets the sirloin with hash-browns. Been years since I have been there, but we used to stumble in there in Midtown at 11:00pm and it was always packed, everyone would get a steak and hash-browns, it is a staple, or at least it was when I would go.

[The Boz]

What’s others experiences with Chevy’s? Had one in South Lake Tahoe years ago and I liked it. Reminded me of the long gone Chi-Chi’s, which is another post in itself. But the Tahoe location closed and I never really thought about it again until I found one in Santa Rosa CA recently. Totally different experience, worn down inside, poor customer service and the food lacking. Based on this location I’m shocked they are still around.

[The Boz]

I am absolutely shocked Fridays is still in business. I went for the first time in years a few months ago, and it was fucking awful. There are only a 100 or so left in the US, I doubt they will last too much longer. It's funny this was the first of these places to go nationwide in the early 70s. The original owner set it up in New York City for the sole purpose of meeting women. He later sold the franchise and started up one of my favorite restaurants in NYC, Smith and Wollensky. Where did the name come from? The owner and his buddy decided to open the place and were hammered one night and opened up a phone book, they opened the book and saw the name Smith. They closed it a reopened it to the Ws and saw the name Wollensky. It's also Warren Buffet's favorite restaurant, he gets the sirloin with hash-browns. Been years since I have been there, but we used to stumble in there in Midtown at 11:00pm and it was always packed, everyone would get a steak and hash-browns, it is a staple, or at least it was when I would go.

Fridays was the go to Happy Hour place in the 90’s. Had to be there early to get a seat and they actually had a free food station at HH. Wings on Mondays, stir fry one day, sliders, etc. Great bartenders that knew your name, almost a Cheers type place. Times changed and I read a recent story that today’s younger workers don’t even know what Happy Hour is.

Now most are gone that I knew of and bankruptcy reports are in the air. But they actually have multiple full sized airport locations at Dallas/Fort Worth that are usually packed. Granted a captive audience but they also have a takeout counter with burgers and such that believe it or not, are decent for what they are on the go.

[The Boz]

Loved Chi-Chi’s even with the Hep A in the Green Onions. Was the first place I celebrated Cinco de Mayo and went back annually for years. Loved the Fried Ice Cream as well after a few margaritas. On the Border is only a shell of what Chi-Chi’s was and doesn’t seem to want the bar crowd with slow service after 2 ‘Rita’s a corporate mandate.

Someone owns the name and sells Salsa and such in grocery stores. Just a kick in the ass seeing it on the shelves remembering what it was.

[dwai]

[Texter]

All you can eat Mexican, what could go wrong. I think there are 2 left.

[Texter]

Used to eat here in CO waaaay back in the day. No wonder they had to change the name to Family Sams.

[The Boz]

Used to eat here in CO waaaay back in the day. No wonder they had to change the name to Family Sams.

From Wiki

“ Battistone's grandson, restaurateur Chad Stevens, owns the only remaining restaurant in Santa Barbara which continued business under the Sambo's name until 2020. In late May 2020, George Floyd protests against racism in the United States began in cities across the United States, including Santa Barbara. A petition drive asked the owner to change the name of Sambo's. In June 2020, the name on the original Sambo's sign was temporarily changed to the motto "☮ & LOVE" ("Peace and love"). In July 2020, the restaurant was officially renamed to "Chad's"”

Fucking George Floyd ruining another American tradition.

[Sheesfaced]

In the 2000s, there was a guy Miri and I got to know who lived in the LA area. Very large guy, a few inches taller than me and overweight, and 100% was on the spectrum. He was very strange and we didn't have much in common with him, but we went for a meal with him every so often just because he was lonely and we wanted to give him some company every so often.

Anyway, he kept insisting we go to Maggiano's in Woodland Hills (San Fernando Valley), repeatedly telling us it was the best Italian food he ever had. I hadn't heard of it, but we went, and it didn't come close to meeting those expectations. Was just okay, like you'd expect of a large chain Italian place. I went a few other times with other people (and once again with him), and every time that was roughly my experience. Not great, not bad, just mediocre and forgettable. Probably has been well over 10 years since I last ate there.

The guy died several years ago in his early 50s. Had a heart attack at home, nobody was around to see it, and that was that.

I went to Maggianos once, and it was surreal. I ordered Chicken Parm, thinking I would get the obvious, a singe chicken breast with cheese and sauce. I was on a date, she ordered just a generic Ziti dish. Literally, I got 3 huge chicken breasts and she got a Ziti dish that could literally feed 4 people. We were like WTF? I asked the waitress what is this, this is an abnormal portion, definitely not what you want on second date. She said they are known for their huge portions and we could bring it home. Well, we are on a date and were going to a bar after dinner to listen to one of those piano guys, there was no opportunity to bring it home. Besides who wants to eat chicken parm the next day anyway? We ate like 20%, it just was unappealing sitting in front of a mound of chicken and a giant bucket of pasta. I don't know if this was par for the course at Maggianos, they are all franchises so maybe it was the owner just doing his own thing.

lol you’re probably trolling but Maggianos is a family style restaurant. It’s actually better than most of the restaurants mentioned so far; although that’s not saying much. Here’s another:

[simpdog]

Buffalo Wild Wings closed all of its Canadian locations in June 2023

[Cerveza Fria]

They used to have these all over South Florida. There was one right around the corner from My Law School and since I was a broke student, this was a mainstay of my diet at the time. Taco Bell out marketed them and they they all disappeared.

[The Boz]

Obviously made famous by Seinfeld but actually had decent chicken at the time as competitors to Boston Chicken before they went to shit.

Was semi surprised to find the Kenny Rogers Roasters name still lives in SE Asia.

Great thread by the way.

[BCR]

Obviously made famous by Seinfeld but actually had decent chicken at the time as competitors to Boston Chicken before they went to shit.

Was semi surprised to find the Kenny Rogers Roasters name still lives in SE Asia.

Great thread by the way.

Boston Market and to lesser extent Kenny Rogers are crazy business stories. Boston Market pretty much started the whole rotisserie chicken fad only to have every grocery store in America start firing up rotisserie chickens and using them as loss leaders on top of stealing their business.

I mean everything in a restaurant can be cooked at home, but once they started firing up already made rotisserie chickens that one could grab with zero labor of cooking them and selling them cheaper than a restaurant ever could, those businesses were doomed. They tried to add other menu items, but in people’s minds, at least Boston Market, they were the rotisserie chicken place.

Wherever they’d launch, Costco and every grocery store started firing up dozens or hundreds of Rotisserie chickens a day and anyone could grab one like a fast food restaurant and go home and eat. Victims of their own success as that is as popular as ever, they are just unnecessary to the process.

[gut]

I went to Maggianos once, and it was surreal. I ordered Chicken Parm, thinking I would get the obvious, a singe chicken breast with cheese and sauce. I was on a date, she ordered just a generic Ziti dish. Literally, I got 3 huge chicken breasts and she got a Ziti dish that could literally feed 4 people. We were like WTF? I asked the waitress what is this, this is an abnormal portion, definitely not what you want on second date. She said they are known for their huge portions and we could bring it home. Well, we are on a date and were going to a bar after dinner to listen to one of those piano guys, there was no opportunity to bring it home. Besides who wants to eat chicken parm the next day anyway? We ate like 20%, it just was unappealing sitting in front of a mound of chicken and a giant bucket of pasta. I don't know if this was par for the course at Maggianos, they are all franchises so maybe it was the owner just doing his own thing.

lol you’re probably trolling but Maggianos is a family style restaurant. It’s actually better than most of the restaurants mentioned so far; although that’s not saying much. Here’s another:

I lived across the street from a Bennigans in my early 20's, loved it. Went probably 3 times a week for late night happy hour for a couple years. Was a great deal anyway + became friends with the bartender and would get additional discounts. 4 beers + tip for $15. Miss that.

Also, their version of a Monte Cristo sandwich had to have the most saturated fat of anything on any menu ever. Could feel arteries clogging trying to eat that.

[tgull]

Hooters is another chain on life support. I went to the original Hooters above years ago, I somehow thought it was on the beach in Clearwater, nope in a generic parking lot. The last Hooters I ate at was at the Hooters Casino in Las Vegas. It had been several years since I ate at a Hooters when I went, right around the age of 40. I got 10 wings and ate like 5 of them, even that was a struggle. Taste buds change over time, and I am like what the fuck am I doing eating a plate of pure grease. I think most people my age consuming something with absolutely no nutritional value is not a good idea. It's fine to have a couple wings here at there at say a party, but to just sit down and consume 15 is gag worthy, at least when you get older. Also, I noticed the waitresses were, well fat. I asked the bartender about it and he acknowledged they should not be in skimpy outfits, but they simply could not find anyone 'hot' to work at a Hooters in Vegas, just too much competition. I get it, it has to be demeaning walking around all day in daisy dukes, getting a 15% tip on a $70 tab when you can work at a high end steak house where the average tab is $300.

[1marley1]

I think it was every Thursday, kids paid ‘penny a pound’ they had a giant scale when you walk in

Actually just announced they’re coming back. Unfortunately not to Redstone plaza…

[tgull]

Obviously made famous by Seinfeld but actually had decent chicken at the time as competitors to Boston Chicken before they went to shit.

Was semi surprised to find the Kenny Rogers Roasters name still lives in SE Asia.

Great thread by the way.

Boston Market and to lesser extent Kenny Rogers are crazy business stories. Boston Market pretty much started the whole rotisserie chicken fad only to have every grocery store in America start firing up rotisserie chickens and using them as loss leaders on top of stealing their business.

I mean everything in a restaurant can be cooked at home, but once they started firing up already made rotisserie chickens that one could grab with zero labor of cooking them and selling them cheaper than a restaurant ever could, those businesses were doomed. They tried to add other menu items, but in people’s minds, at least Boston Market, they were the rotisserie chicken place.

Wherever they’d launch, Costco and every grocery store started firing up dozens or hundreds of Rotisserie chickens a day and anyone could grab one like a fast food restaurant and go home and eat. Victims of their own success as that is as popular as ever, they are just unnecessary to the process.

I saw a TV special on Costco a while back, the CEO said they lose $65M a year on rotisserie chickens because they are priced at $5. The interviewer said well then why sell them? The CEO laughed and said it was the best marketing expense they ever had, like 1% come in and just buy a chicken, the other 99% come in for a chicken and walk out with $70 worth of other stuff they never intended to buy.

Spot on with Boston Market. The last time I went before the pandemic, it was like $14 for lunch. Some carved turkey and two sides and an iced tea, I was like really?

[Jayjami]

Little Black Sambo’s. End of discussion. Mike dropped, exiting stage left.

[TheXFactor]

Obviously made famous by Seinfeld but actually had decent chicken at the time as competitors to Boston Chicken before they went to shit.

Was semi surprised to find the Kenny Rogers Roasters name still lives in SE Asia.

Great thread by the way.

Yeah, they have restaurants in the Philippines.

The price of chicken must be high.

I don't see many restaurants selling half-roasted chicken with sides anymore. Just shit like KFC, Popeyes & Chick-Fil-A.