Philadelphias decline was well under way by the time I was born. The eggs were so-so, the homefries were lame, and the bacon was the thinnest cut Id ever seen, it was literally transparent. This was the center of our universe. That the primavera (or portions of it) might have come straight out of the Sysco catalog? Strictly speaking, adiner is a prefabricated food-service structure with counter service and tables. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art in August 1973. The interior is very clean, but about the only original feature left to the diner is its vaulted ceiling. http://www.houstonpress.com/arts/no-it-s-not-your-opinion-you-re-just-wrong-updated-7611752, You would be better served by using classic instead of real, Another great diner is 4 Seasons on Cottman and Blvd. Recently, a seersucker-and-madras-clad man at a Mural Arts event I went to railed against graffitis cancerous, corrosive effect on Philadelphia. Lombard streets served up an only-in-Philly menu of hot dogs, fishcakes and Champ They really dont build them like this anymore. The wagons, eventually manufacturedby several different companies, grew bigger and more ornate and semi-permanent. This diner is a perfect example ofwhy you do not want to become a diner aficionado. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Manufacturing was collapsing, the population was falling, and the tax base was turning to dust. Cocaine! We were reminiscing about our favorite restaurants and realized that many are no longer there. In the case of the Broad Street Diner, they also replaced a shoddy vinyl awning that adorned the restaurantfor years. For anyone unaware of the state of one of the countrys most recognizable cultural icons, the diner, the Oak Lane Diner, in North Philadelphia, currently provides a clue. This chain of McD's in Montreal used to as late as 1980 (and the Quarter Pounder could actually turn out medium rare ..)-bebopper. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. Dining Car & Market, 8826 Frankford Avenue, The sprawling Dining Car Diner look like an architectural version of B-9, the robot from Lost In Space.| Photo: Randy Garbin. Ellwood or Holy Angels? Sbraga told him he had fond memories of dining with his family at the Pub in Pennsauken, N.J. during the 1980s. My family used to eat there once a week for years. Though, waiting around for a seat is a form of torture, especially for anyone trying to shed a muffin top. The old benches, the ones without armrests in the middle, were wide and deep enough that homeless people could sleep on them. today. Does anyone have old photos of the Marlane Diner on Marshall Rd in Upper Darby and/or the Industrial Diner (much older), on Industrial Hwy? As the word "Olde" in its name implies, McGillin's is Philadelphia's oldest continuously operating tavern. Foursquare. Given the extent of his investments along the corridor, I dont think youll find anyone who has made a bigger bet on its comeback. When built, the few remaining companies produced restaurants in confused styles, but no one held a candle to some of the creations that came out of the Kullman factory. Read page 1980 of the latest Best Of news, headlines, stories, photos, and video from CBS News. To use social login you have to agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. 1970s philadelphia restaurants. Later, the park would get a curfew; wed get in trouble for standing bare-legged in the fountain; wed be turned out while tux-wearing dancers ate fancy food. They were like little homemade chicken cutlets rather than obviously frozen fare that are like sinkers now. Perhaps youre thinking of Robinsons Diner on Island Avenue near Buist (SW Philadelphia)? Tumbleweeds of garbage traveled by. The big DeRaffele diner featured soaring folded-plate roof line, expansive plate glass windows, and a space-age interior that restaurateurs in places like New York and San Francisco spend a small fortune to recreate. These days it serves up Mexican fare as Jessis Diner behind a horrible brick faade which was installed by the previous owner. Yes, I think that was it. Philadelphia, PA 19103. The author in front of her house on Rodman Street with her father. It was anything but. Garces Trading Co.Closed in: 2018Before beer and wine were in grocery stores around Philly, there was Garces Trading, a BYO witha then-exciting (and beautiful) wine cellar inside the restaurant, which specialized in gourmet goods and sandwiches with the celebrity chefs signature touch. Places Near Northeast Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA with 80s Night Clubs. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Then there were our parents, the incense vendors, all those hookers on Broad and on 13th, my Quaker teachers with the puzzling facial hair. And so on. The Melrose apple would seem to be one of those exceptions. The Trolley Car Diner represents Ken Weinsteins support for Mt. Traces of the old diner mixed in with interior renovations atKims Korean Barbecue in Olney. Now home to the trendy Mexican restaurant Lucha Cartel, Philadelphia Fish & Co. was a staple in Old City. 1617 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19102. The award-winning restaurant's unique dining style is a collaboration between celebrated restaurateur Stephen Starr and Aimee Olexy. I moved into the neighborhood only a few months before it burned. While authorities would not release a report on the alleged incident, police have been . Sat Dec 05, 2015 | 12:00pm. Long gone, now. Like the renovations at the Melrose, they could have been much worse, and Petrogiannis even applied a restrained and classy palate to the interior. A place that shows you what all the locals are about. 8013 Castor Avenue, (215) 342-3005; 2153 S. Hancock Street, (215) 462-1637, lipkinsoriginalbakery.com. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Everyone enjoys eating out at Santa Barbara's amazing array of eateries. The history of restaurants in the Nation's Capital. Most entrees on the menu cost less than $15, and we felt just as welcome there as the dozens of localsaround us. And one that I love, at least as far as the cemetery is concerned. Heavily remodeled 50s-style diner that currently serves Asian food. Front Porch Restaurant: 232 Philadelphia Pike, Bellefonte, 1980-2003 Destroyed by fire. and suburbanization through the 1980s, restaurants from the 1990s into the early decades of the twenty-first century played a major role in the region's economy and signaled a . Rundown of Eateries Opened from 1875 to 1986. Campiglia was from New Jersey . I waitressed there for several months in the early/mid-1970s. Oh. And It always hurts me Being a Jersey boy, he has food memories that are rooted in the Garden State. Within the Philadelphia city limits, if you want the true, blue-collar, meat-and-mashed experience inside the real McCoy of vintage American diners, staffed with seasoned, fast-talking, tough-but-tender, maternal waitresses, you will find it in exactly one place: Bobs Diner in Roxborough. Cant beat the prices and food anywhere. Shop on Main Street. There was no single grown-up world, no monolith. The audience at this meeting of the Central Philadelphia Development Corp. laps it up. I can say i have a lot of respect for these structures. Articles like this raise my homesickness for Philadelphia to Olympian heights. Plus I always thought the Jersey diners had the best coffee I ever tasted, next to my dads that is. The Melrose Diner underwent a relatively light, though completely unnecessary exterior renovation in 2010. Even though it's been serving beer and pub food for over 150 years, you can still count on McGillin's for a good time. "On our first visit to Philadelphia, my friend recommended we try Talula's Garden. Life unfolded there. Does anyone remember the satellite diner in Mayfair on Frankford Avenue, I love everything about diners. MONDAY - FRIDAY. One of the most tragic losses to the roster of Philadelphia diners came with the demolition of the long-suffering Wayne Junction Diner. There is also Chung Sing, an American-chinese diner on Lancaster Avenue near Ardmore. Sad long after selling and the fire. Eagle II This roundup features what I believe to be the citys best and most significant examples of the the classic American diner. What looked like the longest, stainless steel diner on the planet (which was actually a very long diner married expertly to an existing cinder-block, stainless-clad addition) welcomed you inside with nothing but superlatives. The boy moved to New York, which was sad (according to my diary), but I miss the old TLA more. Theres little left to see inside its cave-like interior. The city does have some great Portuguese spots (Cafe Liz and Peruvian hybrid El Balconcito come to mind), but theyre all solidly in North or Northeast Philly. The other is Silk City on Spring Garden Street. The Oregon Diner Restaurant, 302 West Oregon Avenue, The Oregon Diner has endured at least three renovations since its installation in the 1960s. Trolley Car Diner, 7619 Germantown Avenue. | Photo: Randy Garbin. While the the iconic Melrose and the Mayfair, both currently owned by Michael Petrogiannis, remain, the vast majority are gone. In February, when Lonely Planet named Philadelphia the best U.S. travel destination for 2016, the city's tired reputation for cheesesteaks, Rocky movies, corruption, and blight-cliches of 1981 or thereabouts-seemed finally put to rest. Frisco BBQ restaurant raises $33K for boy with rare blood cancer . As late as the 60s, they were all over the northwest suburbs in Montgomery county: Hatboro, Horsham, Willow Grove, Glenside, and many others. My wife and I had the London broil, fried seafood combo, and the minestrone soup. And the space at 22nd and Spruce became Fitler Dining Room,which was then transformed into its currentoccupant, Trattoria Carina another beloved neighborhood spot. The original porcelain panels with Oak Lane Diner painted on them survive underneath the brick. When my sister and I were kids, we always looked forward to a meal at Littletons. the most talked-about dish in Manhattan" in the 1970s became an unrelenting culinary joke of the 1980s, . like something straight out of the Star Trek commissary. Sad on both counts. Not a Philadelphia native, my first visits to the Melrose in 1991 left me bewildered by the citys reverence for the restaurant. But what about the diner? I sat and watched Hannah and Her Sisters in the theater at 19th and Chestnut and found a tiny fragment of a road map. The Broad Street sat closed for many years beginning in the early 2000s, and one report had Stephen Starr interested in reopening it. On Sun, 17 Sep 2000 19:33:55 -0400, Ruth Savitz Stephen Starr converted a mid-1960s Fodero diner and appropriately swanked the joint up making it one of the citys best known martini lounges. Weinstein likes to cite, with some justification, the dinerschicken croquettes (a long Philadelphia culinary tradition) and milk shakes, and I can whole-heartedly vouch for the croquettes. Levis Hot Dogs. They tortured me and my friends during grade school because we had no choice but to encroach on their turf: Our school was at 25th and Lombard, and recess was at their park. Bringing together international flavors in a time before the term "fusion" had any culinary connotations, Frog and its casual counterpart, The It all shuttered by late 1999. Mario Batali has called this unassuming 40-seat trattoria in the Center City area of Philly "possibly the best Italian restaurant on the East Coast." The elevated cuisine is prepared by Marc Vetri, who was trained by celebrated chefs in Bergamo, Italy, and who has won a James Beard Award for his . Privacy Policy. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Anyone who believes that they can improve upon the look and quality of a true stainless steel diner probably has some serious psychological issues. Behind the foreboding, Darth Vader-like facade sits a late-1930s Silk City diner that serves up the most basic of menus. little slice of Americana in Old City enjoyed a glorious run from 1950 From there, others imitated his success until Samuel Jones in Worcester, Massachusetts began building and selling more of these lunch wagons for others to operate. In the first decade of the 21st century, Petrogiannis also snapped up the Tiffany, Country Club, and Broad Street diners. My great uncle, Pete Kyriakodis opened what is now know as the New Boulevard / Five Star Diner a long time ago. with snapper soup on the menu, theres no way that this newish iteration Just dont ask him when the actual trolleys will return to the tracks on Germantown Avenue. Spice Grill in Port Richmond. Open in Google Maps. absolute game changer, forever shifting the trajectory of Philadelphia But no, the owners just had to go and crash land this beauty into a sea of ugly. In honor of Classics Week, it's time for a fond look back at long-gone Dallas restaurants, beginning with a visual tour of vintage Dallas restaurant menus. 182059211. Menu-wise, the Trolley Car reflects Weinsteins intention to bring a family restaurant to the neighborhood. Im sorry to inform you that it closed just last yearand has now been remodeled into an urgent care center! Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Unused Pre-1980 RESTAURANT SCENE Philadelphia Pennsylvania PA hk4537 at the best online prices at eBay! Rockefeller. Diner manufacturers eventually centered in northern New Jersey, where for a good 70 years they produced iconic stainless steel restaurants. Here you'll find all collections you've created before. The Red Robin Diner represents the transitional style of diners popular in the mid-to-late 1960s when stainless steel had lost its shine. The restaurants 2002 Diner long gone. As an added bonus, a seat at the counter gives you front-row access to the action. Also the side dishes were very good. The big sign outside advertises homemade bread, which you can get on the side with one of your breakfast dishes. The Love. ChifaClosed in: 2013At Chifa, Jose Garces focused on the relationship between Peruvian cuisine and its Cantonese influence,puttingyuca fries, lomo saltado, soup dumplings, and scallion pancakes all on one glorious menu. We tried the apple pie with vanilla sauce, which made for a decadent pairing. One year, we heard a judge was hosting one of these parade-watching parties. Hiroki. Podcast: Is Sixers' prime time game vs. The city had already issued the demo permit. When Steve Poses opened his first restaurant, Frog, on North 20th Street back in 1973, it was an Little Petes on Chestnut Street By 1930 Cleveland had 1,073 restaurants with 5,959 full-time employees, doing $27,084,127 worth of business. We knew every corner of each others homes, including whose Rittenhouse Square rooftop made for the best water-balloon launching pad. The Fat Hams hot chicken | Photo by Vanessa Beahn. I guess he wasnt here in 1976, when KAP the Bicentennial Kid tagged the Art Museum and the Liberty Bell. I like mostly everything, but when I come for breakfast I get the omelette simply because Ive yet to find another true diner in the region that makes them as perfectly as Bobs. Period. My parents met at a diner somewhere near Elkins Park in the mid-1930s that was run by a couple named John and Gay. | Photo: Randy Garbin. To use an example that one would typically take for granted: even something as mumdane as chicken tenders at the pre-Michael Melrose were better than other places. At the time, we felt our conversations were only a shade less sophisticated than My Dinner With Andre. . For nearly 100 years, this family-owned classic on 6th between South and Lombard streets served up an only-in-Philly menu of hot dogs, fishcakes and Champ Cherry soda before . This breakfast, lunch and There were so many: the Eric Twin Rittenhouse at 19th and Walnut; Sams Place and the SamEric at 19th and Chestnut; Erics Place at 15th and Chestnut; Erics Mark 1 at 18th and Market; the Goldman Theatre at Broad and Chestnut; the Roxy (when it showed films from odd places like Canada); more Im not thinking of. But problems with the logistics of the space and rent hikes got to be too much for the chef, whosstill got Paesanos, Monsu,and Heffe Tacos. The diner was likely built by either OMahony or Mountain View, but, except for the terrazzo floor, youll find almost no features that would indicate pedigree. The best diners pay loving homage to its past, but also strive to write their own history and become landmarks in their own right. graced the corner of 17th and Chancellor streets for nearly 40 years. The city's vibrant restaurant scene has grown tremendously in recent years. | Photo: Randy Garbin. for the luncheonettes griddled cheeseburgers or hand-scooped milkshakes, this In Philly, it was hard to tell what adulthood was. From the New York Metro Area all the way down to D.C., andespecially in New Jersey, you still see them everywherethe expansive diner-restaurants with menus that seem to specialize in EVERY DISH EVER MADE! If you cant get it atone of these places you probably never heard of it anyway. Until It was the Ritz for quite awhile and since has gone through many name changes. ONE BOY WHO accompanied our Bellevue wanderings was the son of a South Street fortune-teller. The diner was originally built by Fodero of Bloomfield, New Jersey. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Went to Ellwood, Wagner, and Central. I suppose the diner and billboards are merely *adjacent* to the graveyard, but it still makes for an odd juxtaposition. There wasnt the money to pay for things like clean streets. (2) Snow White Joes daughter Nancy runs the diner today, and itrecently received national attention thanks to Guy Fieris Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives program, which spotlighted their chicken croquettes. The late 60s and early 70s in Philadelphia were pretty relaxed. You can still find at least a half-dozen examples of their diners built between 1948 and 1954. Bobs Diner looks a little worn out after nearly 80 years at the same location, but the neighborhood loves it, especially on weekends when youll wait a while for a seat. The food is better, but kids dont go there to spill secrets over a shared can of seltzer and a ham and cheese sandwich. I enjoyed the article. | Photo: Michael Bixler. Good soups and lunch. The story of Philadelphias finest French restaurant unraveled into Diners in center city that have vanished since 1990 But theres something about the national retail chains, about the people in teal, about the loss of diners and movie theaters in all their sticky-floored glory that makes me feel Center City has edged a bit too far toward the post-Giuliani NYC model of moneyed, sterilized urbanity. Though a big diner, the Dining Car represents a rare breed that mostly excels in the kitchen, which explains the lines out the door during the dinner and weekend breakfast hours. Le Bec-Fin was a French restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that first opened in 1970.Owner and founder Georges Perrier named the restaurant after the French colloquialism for "fine palate". You might expect to get dental work inside rather than a good breakfast. But Chifa was also the first Garces restaurant to falter, closing after four years in business. Today, I can get stopped at the doors of an upscale hotel or silently ejected from a fancy boutique with an icy glare. Only one of us was brave enough to go in; the rest waited outside, flat against the wall, like felons in a lineup. Easy parking. There isnt a true diner anywhere in this region that makes them as good as Bobs. cash only, after-hours spot for a hangover fighting something or other from Please like & follow for more interesting content. My family worked and owned these places so any info and or photos would be much appreciated. Both Olexy and Sikora have since gone on to better things: heowns conceptsin Wilmington and Kennett Square, and shesbecome an iconic restaurateurinPhilly. What I wrote about Kabobeesh applies to the Penrose as well. nest and fried wontons with complete with a mysterious dunking sauce. Its likely thatno other builder constructed more diners than Jerry OMahony. From long-livedgreasy spoonsto concepts from hotshot chefswho flamed out, we'rerememberingthese much-loved spots taken from us too soon. I remember going there as a kid with my dad and grandfather. Being a person from the 60s it brought me fond memories of the diners. Other ethnicities have entered this fray, but not in sufficient numbers to keep the tradition growing. The Creed franchise is a child of the king of boxing films 1976's "Rocky" and its five sequels. Sylvester Stallone started it all with the iconic film that won an Oscar for best film . Now these places are a CVS, a Mandee, an empty lot, a soon-to-be-demolished historic relic. Bobs was built by the Jerry OMahony company in Elizabeth, New Jersey at its post-war peak. Some like to compare diner builders to the more familiar auto industry, and some might designate OMahony as theChevroletof dinersa well-built, stylish diner without some of the features or decorative flourish found in its competitors,likeParamount or Fodero. Lets cut the nonsense, shall we? In total, his restaurants represent about 900 seats. Someone must have noticed this, because Bobs signage highlights the proximity with the joke that dining there is a monumental experience. I was only passing through and didnt have time to stop, but the diner caught my eyemaybe it had something to do with the two giant billboards next to it? Does she imagine shes in some sophisticated, classy city? Twenty-four diners now operate in Philadelphia, down from 30 in 1990 when I first toured the city (Ive visited more than 1,000 across the country). Order Online. Whether or not hes actually improved on any of them depends on who you ask. The girl who took me to Houlihans on the Square with all the cool kids lived at 18th and Delancey, across the street from towheaded Laura and her little brother Adam, both of whom have passed away, which is a sentence I shouldnt have to write while Im still in my 40s. The Commissary - in its orginal configuration. Supercade was too fresh and clean. worldwide team of discerning professionalsand your views, too. If so, please share it with your friends and family to help spread the word. Weinsteinand his then-partner Bob Elfant brainstormed an idea to bring a family-style restaurant to the former Roy Rogers location on Germantown. The Boulevard has gone through a series of ownerships in the past 10 to 15years, probably because of its poor location, but maybe also because of its crazy, hall-of-mirrors interior. The buildings were built between 1859 and 1918. From international They have about four things available for lunch and two of them are a turkey club sandwich served either with bacon or turkey bacon. Thanks to a tip by someone who grew up in the Olney neighborhood I managed to find this diner which, up until that point, existed on no one elses list. Several Cambodian spots have filled the gap in the six years since Khmer Kitchen opened, but well always have a place in our hearts for this corner spot. The gauzy visions of a prosperous and dynamic Center City that once seemed like pipe dreams have, in large part, become reality. Facebook/A Slice of the 80s. But beyond that, this: He claims to know all the dinners. But Taco Angelenosstraightforward, L.A.-style tacos flavorful slow-braised meats, a simple toppings bar of chopped onion, radish, cilantro and curtido, and seitan for vegetarians this is West Philly, after all filled that void. Great photos on the wall. I look for a good value balanced against the general experience. I also remember the great food in diners. It is a true-and-tried diner. DjangoClosed in: 2008Before there was Aimee Olexy and Stephen Starr as successful a restaurant businesspartnership as the city has ever seen there was Aimee Olexy and Bryan Sikora, chef and Olexys then-husband. What is going on with this cemeterybillboards, a diner? Because of its output, OMahony had a large and loyal clientele that would often return old diners to the factory to trade it infor a newer, bigger model (I have no evidence that a diner sat on this location before the current one, but the possibility exists). Ace Diner on Lancaster Avenue serves a good breakfast in a clean, but heavily renovated space. There is alot of history to that piece of property. when I see one shut down. The Queen Village space was just gorgeous, too. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. In 1980, this magazine called subway trains slums-on-wheels. Buses werent much better. In Spain. In the late 1970s, the Dewey's restaurants in Philadelphia began to fold, victims to competition from national fast food chains like . a particularly damning review from Craig Laban, not even a change in ownership in 2012 could save the grand dame of In excellent condition, Weinsteinhad little restorative work to do, but he nevertheless faced a daunting task of connectingthe diner with the existing Roy Rogers building. And instead of a suburban Dairy Queen parking lot, we had Rittenhouse Square. Both the Melrose and the Mayfair shared a particularly endearing practice of pinning their waitresses with the year they started service. While i frequent my old neighborhood diner (trolley car diner)most often, one that i really love that is always superb to me is the Four Seasons Diner on cottman Avenue. Throwback Thursday: A fond look back at long vanished South Bend restaurants. I agree that eating at a diner is more of an immersive experience in that neighborhood. City, one in North Philly and the Pennsauken outpost thats still kickin They were s Philly traditional, I worked for the Perini Corp for that area of reconstruction. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. It was great fun. 2023 BygonelyPrivacy policyTerms of ServiceContact us. Since 1969, restaurant, hotel, travel & other witty reviews by a handpicked, worldwide team of discerning professionalsand your views, too. Schuylkill River Park, now family-friendly with its dog park (with special areas for big and small dogs) and creative landscape architecture, was rather seedy. My father owned the diner from 1981- 2000. But it was. | Content Licensing, Copyright 1996-2023 GAYOT All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Disclaimer Terms of Use GAYOT (pronounced guy-OH) The Guide To The Good Life. A hostess sometimes had to take names out in the lobby. In 1998, with diners at the peak of their resurgence, Ken tossed the idea into mix, and the hunt commenced. The Crime rates in the 1980s Philadelphia were very high. He said I didnt have the right name. I do miss the original owners, but maybe it was time for a change as in the last few years food quality had noticeably declined and the hours were cut back. Pure cacophony and sweet-treat over-indulgence, as you can see in this commercial (opens in new tab) from 1980. Just a classic Chinese restaurant menu today. Remember when farm-to-table was an exciting new thing rather than a Portlandia punchline? In Center City, giant modern skyscrapers were designed by world-renowned architects in the Old City and South Street areas. Finally, I go because I know that, especially within a vintage diner, I will sit in a space of uniquely American quality, craftsmanship, ingenuity, and exuberance. The Aramingo Diner, another long-time Philly institution, became a medical office.

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