What restaurant would you like to return to business?

Rex’s Cork and Fork. Best home cooking food and service within 50 miles of my house.

I can think of dozens, but I will start with Hungry Hunter. Those were the best prime rib dinners anywhere.

Whataburger and Church’s Fried Chicken when they was just starting out were great. Sadly, no more.

Howard Johnson’s, with their chocolate syrup ice cream topping.

Ooh, oooh… I was just gonna say Howard Johnson’s !!

I loved their chocolate chip ice cream and they had a great breakfast buffet. Plus, they were open really late.

It was a mainstay of our family vacations. That’s the only time we’d go there. I wish I knew how to get my hands on the recipe for that chocolate syrup.

Just give me back my Oreo-O’s!

There was a time when H. Salt esq. Fish & Chips were all over, but they are hard to find now.
There was restaurant chain called Victoria Station, where they converted old railroad cars and made it a steak place. Pretty damn good.

@cookieman Howard Johnson’s introduced the entire country to southeastern New England food. Clam chowder and fried clams are dietary mainstays that region, and everyone grows up eating such things (I certainly did). But, Howard Johnson’s started serving them everywhere.

Ah, Howard Johnson. My family and I loved that place in the ‘50s.

Texas Land & Cattle Steakhouse

They might still be in business somewhere else but they’re gone from Phoenix. It sucks.

Bullwinkle’s and Chi chi’s. And the PB and J’s Peanut butter sandwich store in Calgary. I would have loved to have multiple choices for Peanut butter sandwiches. Also I miss Bonanza ‘s unlimited shrimp and good rib eye steaks.

Heritage House Smörgåsbord.

Salty Sam would have starved after Captain Jinx & Salty Sam was cancelled in ‘81 if he hadn’t gotten the job of assistant manager and official spokesman for the aforementioned restaurant.

plus the food was fucking outstanding

@SMP: Yup, so true. I grew up and live in Massachusetts, so I know of what you speak.

Their clam roll was also yummy.

I know where there is still a Howard Johnson’s operating. And offering all the old standards.
It’s in Lake Placid.

Seriously, don’t laugh, but Bobs Big Boy burgers. Oh man, I am not a huge burger fan but THOSE were so deelicious. They are almost obsolete and there are none here in NorCal. I LOVED that place as a kid.

Sbarro’s. They seem to be in a bit of trouble and the one in our mall recently closed. When I worked at the theater next to the mall we had a deal with them. Free food for all the movies and popcorn and soda they could consume. We totally won in this deal. I had it for lunch every damn day for three years. They only watched a few movies per month. If we went before closing we would get two or three boxes full of pizza and garlic rolls. The pizza isn’t great. But when it is free and you make 4.25 a hour it is pretty fucking awesome.

Horn & Hardart’s both the bakery, sit-down and Auto-mat versions. Good food, cheap prices, clean and convenient.

I want to say Montego’s Pizza (Metropolis, IL), but the truth is that place had really went downhill and had sucked for years before it closed.

@Adirondackwannabe “I know where there is still a Howard Johnson’s operating. And offering all the old standards. It’s in Lake Placid.”

I wonder if it’s the same location that was used to film a “Mad Men” episode.

@SadieMartinPaul It’s possible. Do you know if they showed the outside of the place?

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour. I am ecstatic that they’re supposed to be reopening soon if they haven’t started already.

@Adirondackwannabe “Do you know if they showed the outside of the place?”

Yes, the outside was featured very prominently, complete with a vintage orange roof.

Here, check out the pic in the history section.
http://lakeplacidhojos.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=171

Fuddruckers. They’re still in business, but not anywhere around me. They used to be near where I lived as a teen, and they were very popular.