Old Restaurants

[RadicalModerate]

In the 70s the "great American railroad" was in that same spot and had pretty good food. For a time in the later 80s it was a Mexican joint although I cant think of the name of it.

That's right . . . I almost forgot . . . It, the railroad-esque motif, intended by the original tenet, probably had a lot to do with the artistic architecture of the building . . . =)

[ctchandler]

RM,
Don't forget, it was also Bodean's, a restaurant that started in Tulsa and is still in Tulsa. I used to eat lunch at the AAA, good chicken fried steak.
C. T.

That's right . . . I almost forgot . . . It, the railroad-esque motif, intended by the original tenet, probably had a lot to do with the artistic architecture of the building . . . =)

[bluedogok]

Okay . . . Here's one that I bet almost nobody remembers:
"Good Eats Café".

It was where "The Ranch" is now (over on Britton Rd.).
I only ate there a couple of times, but the food was superb, if basic, and priced right.
It was the place where my "cooking gene" was activated with my first taste of "Tequila Glazed Chicken".

(I know that TGC is, like, Cooking 101 but it was sure good and opened up my culinary horizons. =)

Now I'm wondering if it was called the A&A Cafe.

Good Eats: Went there once, liked it. There was also one on I-35 in the Denton TX area. I stopped there in 1996.

They have one left in Dallas (on Live Oak) and one in Houston, they were all over Dallas when I lived there in the early 90's. They used to have a real good chicken fry.

What was that greasyspoon in Britton, the AAA Cafe?

I think it was in the old 7-11 right by Casady, I think they later moved down Britton Rd.

[Urbanized]

Used to love RJ's Cafe up on Santa Fe. Old-school diner. Much like downtown Airpark though, the smokers ruled that place. So you had to be content with smelling like an ashtray when you left. It's hard to believe that wasn't so long ago.

[Garin]

Used to love RJ's Cafe up on Santa Fe. Old-school diner. Much like downtown Airpark though, the smokers ruled that place. So you had to be content with smelling like an ashtray when you left. It's hard to believe that wasn't so long ago.

Blue plate special

[boscorama]

Bob's Queen Bee, NW 23/Western, a late-night delight LOL.

[GaryOKC6]

I used to love to go to Sambo's on 33rd & Classen and have their pancakes.

[Urbanized]

The OG Abraham's Western Cafe. Not as enthusiastic about the current location. Loses some of the charm.

[Urbanized]

I'm going to go ahead and add the original Pearl's and Bellini's to this list. R.I.P.; you both became the Melanie Griffiths of restaurants.

[Prunepicker]

I'm going to go ahead and add the original Pearl's and Bellini's to this list.

Pearl's was very good. I'm assuming you mean the one that was on NW 63rd.

Has Bellini's closed? I'm not aware of that happening. Did Bellini's exist in
another location? I played there a couple of months ago. The usual "richer
than we could ever hope to be" crowd was attending the gig and were
engaging with the band. It was quite fun.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. We left the gig sitting very pretty.

[Urbanized]

Pearl's was very good. I'm assuming you mean the one that was on NW 63rd.

Has Bellini's closed? I'm not aware of that happening. Did Bellini's exist in
another location? I played there a couple of months ago. The usual "richer
than we could ever hope to be" crowd was attending the gig and were
engaging with the band. It was quite fun.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. We left the gig sitting very pretty.

1. I am indeed talking about Pearl's on NW 63rd
2. If you are thinking of the place by the same name that still exists inside the Waterford, I doubt you spent much time at Bellini's in the '90s, eating anyway.

As far as I am concerned both places exist today in name only. They were the once the incredibly hot girls-next-door and today they are surgically-enhanced and unrecognizable.

[John]

As far as I am concerned both places exist today in name only. They were the once the incredibly hot girls-next-door and today they are surgically-enhanced and unrecognizable.

I know the location leaves a lot to be desired, but I'm hoping the new Tommy's on Memorial will remind us why we all fell in love with Bellini's (and Tommy's) in the first place.

[Prunepicker]

... If you are thinking of the place by the same name that still exists inside the
Waterford, I doubt you spent much time at Bellini's in the '90s, eating anyway.

I definitely spent time at Bellini's in the 90's.

[Urbanized]

I definitely spent time at Bellini's in the 90's.

And you think it today in any way resembles the place where you hung out in the nineties? Other than the patrons, I mean. Interior, ownership, menu, all COMPLETELY different. BINO. Bellini's In Name Only.

[RadicalModerate]

I met my wife, in person, for the first time at the Bellini's, in Edmond, that has since morphed into a Teds.
I still remember exactly what I ordered* and how great the entire experience was.

A few years later, we went to Bellini's, in The Waterford, for an anniversary or whatnot.
The food was okay, but all I really remember about THAT experience was wandering, distracted, Cassidy Waifs, dressed in black, attempting to serve as Hospitality Industry reps, without the personal touch. It sort of reminded me of a production by Andy Warhol.

*I had Tuna with Angel Hair Pasta (a.k.a. "Capellini")
They put cheese on the fish.
Can you imagine such a gaffe?
But it was all good on account of I was falling in Love. =)
(this would have been back around '98 or so . . .)

Tomorrow, I put together the "St. Pat's Day Once Removed" version of some tasty eats for the same SweetHeart.

[RadicalModerate]

A Loose Salute* to Old Restaurants . . . Shel Silverstein . . . Bobby Bare . . . and St. Patrick =) :



*all rights reserved by Michael Nesmith Enterprizes (c. 1970 sumpin' 'r other)

There Are No "New" Thoughts
We Are All Simply Compilers
Of Those That Have Gone Before.

[Urbanized]

Sleepy Hollow.

[Achilleslastand]

Sleepy Hollow.

Cant believe no one has mentioned this yet.
Some of the best fried chicken in town in my opinion.
Didn't they reopen for a spell after the robbery but ultimately had to close the doors?

[ctchandler]

Achilleslastand,
Even though I enjoyed the place, my worst dining experience happened there. Reservations for Mother's day for 1:00, and at 2:30 we had not been seated. I told the family (11 of them) that I would buy the take-away and we would celebrate at my house. It was unanimous and I never went back. I understand problems on holidays but it was an advance reservation that they didn't come close to honoring and didn't seem to care. I believe a chef named Houston was the last owner and it seems there were some legal problems that led to the closing, possibly even some shady activity by the owner.
C. T.

Cant believe no one has mentioned this yet.
Some of the best fried chicken in town in my opinion.
Didn't they reopen for a spell after the robbery but ultimately had to close the doors?

[Achilleslastand]

Achilleslastand,
Even though I enjoyed the place, my worst dining experience happened there. Reservations for Mother's day for 1:00, and at 2:30 we had not been seated. I told the family (11 of them) that I would buy the take-away and we would celebrate at my house. It was unanimous and I never went back. I understand problems on holidays but it was an advance reservation that they didn't come close to honoring and didn't seem to care. I believe a chef named Houston was the last owner and it seems there were some legal problems that led to the closing, possibly even some shady activity by the owner.
C. T.

The times ive been there were all pre-robbery and the food as well as the service was pretty good. Did you happen to go during the last ownership?
Here is a pretty good article on the place...
Sleepy Hollow Restaurant, Oklahoma City, OK

[ctchandler]

No, the last time (Mother's Day) was sometime between December, 1972 and August, 1975. I know because we went to our home on S. W. 92nd to eat the take-away and that's the timeframe that we lived there. They were still a good place, but I got burned pretty bad. I'm fairly forgiving and give a place a couple of chances. If they had only been apologetic, I understands foulups, but, as I mentioned previously, they didn't seem to care. I think they were happy that they didn't have to seat us.
C. T.
975

The times ive been there were all pre-robbery and the food as well as the service was pretty good. Did you happen to go during the last ownership?
Here is a pretty good article on the place...
Sleepy Hollow Restaurant, Oklahoma City, OK

[RadicalModerate]

Sleepy Hollow.

In my opinion . . . it was mis-managed.

1) Some pogue from the "management staff" came out to bitch at me (when I was a callow youth of about 22) about loading a bulldozer onto a low-boy trailer from the natural berm facilitating the completion of my task in the most expeditious manner possible in connection with a road improvement project in the vicinity.

2) A friend of mine . . . a plumber of sorts . . . (really a sewer cleaning guy) . . . told me that the worst drains of all to clear were the grease traps in restaraunts and the worst of the restaurants was . . . Sleepy Hollow.

3) After all of that . . . I ate there: The Food was Overpriced to the point that even Mediocre would have been Insulted. =)

[RadicalModerate]

Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .

How about this one . . .
There used to be a little hole in the wall place at the corner of Reno and Sunnylane that served some of the best "Plate Lunches" ever.

And what about "Maggie's Kitchen" out there in Harrah?
Or "The Front Porch" in Nicoma Park?

[ctchandler]

RM,
Yes and yes.
C. T.

Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .

[bluedogok]

Speaking of "Tommy's" (and perhaps at the risk of being redundant or whatever) . . . Wasn't there a "Tommy's" in Northpark Mall, perhaps where Rococo is now? I seem to recall eating there once--had the best Norweigian Salmon with pasta ever--and also seem to recall that it was the same Tommy of Bellini's fame . . .

How about this one . . .
There used to be a little hole in the wall place at the corner of Reno and Sunnylane that served some of the best "Plate Lunches" ever.

And what about "Maggie's Kitchen" out there in Harrah?
Or "The Front Porch" in Nicoma Park?

Tommy's was pretty good but my favorite in that spot was Interurban, had a lot of fun times there and the food was better than the last time I ate at Interurban (Mustang location).