Extinct local restaurants

[The Old School JPS]

I was thinking today about some of the local restaurants that we used to enjoy that are no longer with us.

Ollie's Trolley - there is still one on 3rd Street in Louisville, but I remember back when there were several around town. The burgers had a somewhat unusual sauce and the fries were spicy and good.

LUMS - I recall it much more vaguely, but there were several. They used beer to cook the hot dogs.

Burger Chef and Burger Queen - were popular in Louisville 30 years ago or so; the Burger Queen restaurants became Druther's, but I don't know what became of them after that. ("I do remember their annoying jingle, 'I'd ruther go to Druther's, restaurant . . . '") I'm not sure what became of Burger Chef; I remember the big one across US 60 from the Mall St. Matthews.

G. D. Ritzy's - I really liked the burgers at that place, and back then the notion of a cherry Coke (or vanilla or chocolate) was a bit unusual as soda counters were going extinct and no one yet marketed them in cans. The ice cream there was good, as was the 50's themed decor. There used to be many of these places, including in Louisville, Lexington and northern Kentucky; do any still exist?

Sambo's is another chain that I remember, though I did not like it much. We ate there on vacation a couple of times, and it was not very good. It was very much like Denny's, but not as good. I suppose the name may have had as much to do with its decline and disappearance as the quality of the food might have.

Stuckey's, another chain I remember from traveling. They used to have that game at every table with the wooden triangle and the pegs. I think that's where they had it. There used to be tons of those places but I don't really see them now.

Nickerson Farms was like Stuckey's and I remember that each one had a beehive that you could view from in the waiting area. The bees would fly in and out of it from outside, and they sold honey from it in the store. There was one of these on I-71 between Louisville and Northern Kentucky. It sat there abandoned for a long time, but it's gone now, I'm pretty sure. I can't remember the exit where it was.

The Fresher Cooker - this was in Plainview, near where TGI Friday's is now. The interior decor was Astroturf on the floor and patio furniture, as I recall. The idea was that they served healthy food with a lot of good vegetables. I remember not liking it very much. Was this a chain, or a local venture?

Farrell's was a place in Oxmoor Mall that into at least the late 1980s, up on the mezzanine, served undistinguished food but lots of ice cream and shakes and so on. If it was someone's birthday they would bang on a huge drum.

Howard Johnson's - I loved the clam dinner there. I don't think that any exist anywhere near Kentucky now.

Flynn's in Frankfort - what a unique place. It closed in the early to mid 1990s, as I recall.

Cunningham's, the old one in Louisville, was great. The new one on Fourth Street, though definitely in a nicer building, does not serve food that is as good (in my opinion), charges more for that inferior food, and is not nearly as interesting a place.

Kingfish used to have several locations in Louisville; now the only original one is on the river near Zorn Avenue, but there is one on the river in southern Indiana and another on Blankenbaker Lane.

OK, here is the one that I hope someone can remember. 25-30 years ago there was a restaurant that I believe was near the intersection of US 60 and I-264 in Louisville. It was styled as a big boat, a steamboat I think. I cannot remember the name. I recall that it burned, and sat there damaged for some time before being razed. What was that place?

How about your memories of long-gone restaurants?

[DenCat]

Moore's Bar and Grill. This was a more of a bar than restaurant, but they had the best cheeseburgers I've ever eaten. It was on Preston Street near Eastern Parkway.

Banquet Table. Very good eats.

Blue Boar. Good cafertieria style food. I think the one on Eastern Parkway used to be a HoJo's.

Longino's. On Poplar Level Road, greta food at a great price.

[The Old School JPS]

Moore's Bar and Grill. This was a more of a bar than restaurant, but they had the best cheeseburgers I've ever eaten. It was on Preston Street near Eastern Parkway.

Banquet Table. Very good eats.

Blue Boar. Good cafertieria style food. I think the one on Eastern Parkway used to be a HoJo's.

Longino's. On Poplar Level Road, greta food at a great price.

I remember the name Banquet Table but I can't really recall the place.

The Blue Boar, I do remember. There was one in the Mall St. Matthews for years and years. I think there were about four of them in Louisville and one other elsewhere, perhaps northern Kentucky or Indianapolis or something.

Was the Blue Boar on Eastern Parkway near where the Walgreen's is now, near White Castle? I vaguely remember that one.

[Chaz]

I was thinking today about some of the local restaurants that we used to enjoy that are no longer with us.

Ollie's Trolley - there is still one on 3rd Street in Louisville, but I remember back when there were several around town. The burgers had a somewhat unusual sauce and the fries were spicy and good.

LUMS - I recall it much more vaguely, but there were several. They used beer to cook the hot dogs.

Burger Chef and Burger Queen - were popular in Louisville 30 years ago or so; the Burger Queen restaurants became Druther's, but I don't know what became of them after that. ("I do remember their annoying jingle, 'I'd ruther go to Druther's, restaurant . . . '") I'm not sure what became of Burger Chef; I remember the big one across US 60 from the Mall St. Matthews.

G. D. Ritzy's - I really liked the burgers at that place, and back then the notion of a cherry Coke (or vanilla or chocolate) was a bit unusual as soda counters were going extinct and no one yet marketed them in cans. The ice cream there was good, as was the 50's themed decor. There used to be many of these places, including in Louisville, Lexington and northern Kentucky; do any still exist?

Sambo's is another chain that I remember, though I did not like it much. We ate there on vacation a couple of times, and it was not very good. It was very much like Denny's, but not as good. I suppose the name may have had as much to do with its decline and disappearance as the quality of the food might have.

Stuckey's, another chain I remember from traveling. They used to have that game at every table with the wooden triangle and the pegs. I think that's where they had it. There used to be tons of those places but I don't really see them now.

Nickerson Farms was like Stuckey's and I remember that each one had a beehive that you could view from in the waiting area. The bees would fly in and out of it from outside, and they sold honey from it in the store. There was one of these on I-71 between Louisville and Northern Kentucky. It sat there abandoned for a long time, but it's gone now, I'm pretty sure. I can't remember the exit where it was.

The Fresher Cooker - this was in Plainview, near where TGI Friday's is now. The interior decor was Astroturf on the floor and patio furniture, as I recall. The idea was that they served healthy food with a lot of good vegetables. I remember not liking it very much. Was this a chain, or a local venture?

Farrell's was a place in Oxmoor Mall that into at least the late 1980s, up on the mezzanine, served undistinguished food but lots of ice cream and shakes and so on. If it was someone's birthday they would bang on a huge drum.

Howard Johnson's - I loved the clam dinner there. I don't think that any exist anywhere near Kentucky now.

Flynn's in Frankfort - what a unique place. It closed in the early to mid 1990s, as I recall.

Cunningham's, the old one in Louisville, was great. The new one on Fourth Street, though definitely in a nicer building, does not serve food that is as good (in my opinion), charges more for that inferior food, and is not nearly as interesting a place.

Kingfish used to have several locations in Louisville; now the only original one is on the river near Zorn Avenue, but there is one on the river in southern Indiana and another on Blankenbaker Lane.

OK, here is the one that I hope someone can remember. 25-30 years ago there was a restaurant that I believe was near the intersection of US 60 and I-264 in Louisville. It was styled as a big boat, a steamboat I think. I cannot remember the name. I recall that it burned, and sat there damaged for some time before being razed. What was that place?

How about your memories of long-gone restaurants?
Many of the Kingfish resturants were of the steamboat structure. The one you are thinking of I believe was south of the watterson on Dixie highway (US 60 & 31W). Another one was on Bardstown rd south of the Watterson.

G.D.Ritzy's--one in Owensboro and some in Evansville.

Nickerson Farms--was one on I64 at the Dale IN interchange a couple of years ago--maybe still there?

Stucky's are still in the southeast in Jawja and the Caralina's.

Any one remember Lil Abners in the east end in L'ville? Don't remember exactly it was located. That Ice Cream monster was something else :eek:

What about the Ranch House? was like the Big Boys or Frischs

[DenCat]

I remember the name Banquet Table but I can't really recall the place.

The Blue Boar, I do remember. There was one in the Mall St. Matthews for years and years. I think there were about four of them in Louisville and one other elsewhere, perhaps northern Kentucky or Indianapolis or something.

Was the Blue Boar on Eastern Parkway near where the Walgreen's is now, near White Castle? I vaguely remember that one.
Yes. There is a liquor store there now and a bakery.

Where Walgreen's is now there used to be a bowling alley, Pee Wee Reese, I think used to be the name.

[moody85]

Yes. There is a liquor store there now and a bakery.

Where Walgreen's is now there used to be a bowling alley, Pee Wee Reese, I think used to be the name.

Yep, it was Pee Wee Reese. My mom used to bowl in a league over there.
At any given time, you might see Pee Wee himself.

[misterbluecat]

I was going to say Parkette, but it's not quite extinct yet. Close, but not yet. Po' Boy FTW!

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

I miss GD Ritzy's, I'd much rather go there than a Steak N Shake.

[DenCat]

On the corner of Preston Hwy and Philips Lane there was a place called the Cow Palace. It changed names a few times. One of those names was Surf and Turf.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Burger Chef and Burger Queen - were popular in Louisville 30 years ago or so; the Burger Queen restaurants became Druther's, but I don't know what became of them after that. ("I do remember their annoying jingle, 'I'd ruther go to Druther's, restaurant . . . '") I'm not sure what became of Burger Chef; I remember the big one across US 60 from the Mall St. Matthews.


Not sure if the same thing happened in Louisville and other places, but around easern Kentucky and SW Virginia where I grew up, there were Burger Queens, that became Druthers and then they all changed to Hardee's. At least one in Grundy, Va., still is a Hardees afaik.

[gerntz]

Fudruckers still around? One up here closed.

Jerry's?

Some of the cheap steakhouse chains?

[surveyor]

Hasenour's / The Atrium restaurant at Barrett and Oak in Louisville.

The owners of Hasenour's had built an addition to the restaurant that was open, airy with brick archways and lots of glass. It opened out onto brickwall enclosed courtyard and patio. Excellent food and atmosphere, but a bit pricey.

When I was a wee lad in `68 or so I remember a place called "Henry's Hamburgers" on or near Algonquin Parkway.

Scotty's Diner, south Dixie Highway south of Valley Station. Strictly greasy spoon diner food, but great food.

When Jefferson Mall first opened in `77 there was a York Steakhouse we went to for dinner every saturday evening.

L & N Seafood Grille on Hurstbourne north of Shelbyville Road. Defunct by late `90s I believe. One of the few good alternatives in Louisville to the Red Lobsters chain restaurants.

New Orleans House (East). The last iteration of this restaurant was on Hikes Lane. Featured seafood buffet of all-you-can-eat crab legs, shrimp, fish, oysters, etc. You could also get surf and turf steak/lobster dinners.
The buffet was a steep (for late 70's early 80's) $20+, but well worth it for the glutton in all of us.

[The Old School JPS]

A couple of others:

Orange Julius - every mall seemed to have one. This was back when Chik-Fil-A was pretty obscure and generally confined to malls, too. Orange Julius was decorated with a devil motif.

Benji's, in Knoxville - home of the Volburger, which if you could get past its name was pretty darn good.

Many of the Kingfish resturants were of the steamboat structure. The one you are thinking of I believe was south of the watterson on Dixie highway (US 60 & 31W). Another one was on Bardstown rd south of the Watterson.

G.D.Ritzy's--one in Owensboro and some in Evansville.

Nickerson Farms--was one on I64 at the Dale IN interchange a couple of years ago--maybe still there?


I remember those Kingfish restaurants, but the boat-like restaurant that burned was not one of them. The fire and razing happened many years before those Kingfish restaurants closed.

Where is the G.D. Ritzy's in Owensboro? If I'm ever there for more than one meal I may go there . . . but I could never pass up Old Hickory Barbeque for that.

I've used that Dale interchange a few times in the past couple of years and I didn't see any sign of a Nickerson Farms there. *sigh* Too bad.

Yes. There is a liquor store there now and a bakery.

Where Walgreen's is now there used to be a bowling alley, Pee Wee Reese, I think used to be the name.

Wow, now you're bringing me back; I've not thought about that place in years.

Speaking of things near U of L: does anyone remember the old Cardinal's Inn near campus? It was torn down about 10 years ago I think.

On the corner of Preston Hwy and Philips Lane there was a place called the Cow Palace. It changed names a few times. One of those names was Surf and Turf.

I remember that. For some reason that reminds me of an old place in Louisville called the Cork and Cleaver. I assume it is long gone but I can't now even recall where it was or when it would have closed.

Fudruckers still around? One up here closed.

Jerry's?

Some of the cheap steakhouse chains?

There are still some Jerry's restaurants, unless they are all now Frisch's Big Boys. I think I ate at one near the intersection of I-65 and the Western Kentucky Parkway last year, but it may have been something else.

I think they still have Sizzlers in the western U.S. I think I saw a few the last two times I was in New Mexico/Arizona/Nevada/California last year. I remember the one in Louisville . . . across from the Mall St. Matthews, as were so many other now-long-gone restaurants we've mentioned in this thread (Burger Chef, Howard Johnson's . . . is Rollo Pollo still there).

Hasenour's / The Atrium restaurant at Barrett and Oak in Louisville.

When Jefferson Mall first opened in `77 there was a York Steakhouse we went to for dinner every saturday evening.

New Orleans House (East). The last iteration of this restaurant was on Hikes Lane. Featured seafood buffet of all-you-can-eat crab legs, shrimp, fish, oysters, etc. You could also get surf and turf steak/lobster dinners.
The buffet was a steep (for late 70's early 80's) $20+, but well worth it for the glutton in all of us.

Hasenour's was a former funeral home, right? (Or maybe it is one now . . . ) What's funny about that location now is that it is no longer there, but there are several restaurants around it. Across the corner from it, I believe, is a former laundromat that was converted into a Middle Eastern restaurant.

York Steakhouse . . . I had forgotten all about that until you posted that.

New Orleans House was really something else back in the day. It is now an Indian restaurant (India Palace, I think). The old Gatti's pizza place near it was turned into a high-end stereo store many years ago.

[moody85]

A couple of others:

Orange Julius - every mall seemed to have one. This was back when Chik-Fil-A was pretty obscure and generally confined to malls, too. Orange Julius was decorated with a devil motif.

Benji's, in Knoxville - home of the Volburger, which if you could get past its name was pretty darn good.



I remember those Kingfish restaurants, but the boat-like restaurant that burned was not one of them. The fire and razing happened many years before those Kingfish restaurants closed.

Where is the G.D. Ritzy's in Owensboro? If I'm ever there for more than one meal I may go there . . . but I could never pass up Old Hickory Barbeque for that.

I've used that Dale interchange a few times in the past couple of years and I didn't see any sign of a Nickerson Farms there. *sigh* Too bad.



Wow, now you're bringing me back; I've not thought about that place in years.

Speaking of things near U of L: does anyone remember the old Cardinal's Inn near campus? It was torn down about 10 years ago I think.



I remember that. For some reason that reminds me of an old place in Louisville called the Cork and Cleaver. I assume it is long gone but I can't now even recall where it was or when it would have closed.

There was a Cork and Cleaver on Shelbyville Road in Middletown. Last time I looked the location is now a Mexican restaurant.

There are still some Jerry's restaurants, unless they are all now Frisch's Big Boys. I think I ate at one near the intersection of I-65 and the Western Kentucky Parkway last year, but it may have been something else.

I think they still have Sizzlers in the western U.S. I think I saw a few the last two times I was in New Mexico/Arizona/Nevada/California last year. I remember the one in Louisville . . . across from the Mall St. Matthews, as were so many other now-long-gone restaurants we've mentioned in this thread (Burger Chef, Howard Johnson's . . . is Rollo Pollo still there).



Hasenour's was a former funeral home, right? (Or maybe it is one now . . . ) What's funny about that location now is that it is no longer there, but there are several restaurants around it. Across the corner from it, I believe, is a former laundromat that was converted into a Middle Eastern restaurant.

York Steakhouse . . . I had forgotten all about that until you posted that.

New Orleans House was really something else back in the day. It is now an Indian restaurant (India Palace, I think). The old Gatti's pizza place near it was turned into a high-end stereo store many years ago.

Does anyone remember The Toadstool Inn on Dixie Highway? They had the best fried chicken and hash browns.

[boomdaddy]

Louie's in Paris, a family eatery. It is strange to see a vacant lot, where the it used to be.

[Chaz]

A couple of others:

Orange Julius - every mall seemed to have one. This was back when Chik-Fil-A was pretty obscure and generally confined to malls, too. Orange Julius was decorated with a devil motif.




Where is the G.D. Ritzy's in Owensboro? If I'm ever there for more than one meal I may go there . . . but I could never pass up Old Hickory Barbeque for that.


New Orleans House was really something else back in the day. It is now an Indian restaurant (India Palace, I think). The old Gatti's pizza place near it was turned into a high-end stereo store many years ago.
The Ritzy's in Owensboro is on South Frederica across from the Mall.
WildcatDan keeps a close eye on it while at work. :icon_biggrin:

There is an Orange Julius in the Opry Mills mall in Nashville. and I've seen HoJo's in the south not long ago.

Loved the New Orleans house especially when someone else is footing the bill. :icon_biggrin:

[UK78ALUM]

Ireland's Steak and Biscuits off Southland Drive at the railroad overpass

Shakey's Pizza

Nellie Kelly's in Landsdowne

Yozo's

Campus Corner

Saratoga

Time Out Deli

Ground Round

Daryl's

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Yozo's


Was Yozo's the ecclectic place in South Hill Station? If that was it, I loved that place when I was in college.

I also really liked the gourmet sandwich place that was in POT. Was it called the Intermezzo? I doubt it's still there. Anyone know for sure?

[UK78ALUM]

Yozo's was the cajun restaurant here in LEX. There were 3, I think.

[surveyor]

Hasenour's was a former funeral home, right? (Or maybe it is one now . . . ) What's funny about that location now is that it is no longer there, but there are several restaurants around it. Across the corner from it, I believe, is a former laundromat that was converted into a Middle Eastern restaurant.

It's a funeral home now.

Hasenour's was of the "Fifth Quarter" and "Masterson's" mold. Lots of leather and wood paneling/wainscoted panels, semicircular booths, etc.
Upscale, but upscale in the late 70's. They catered to a specific crowd that simply got old. I believe that was the reason for the addition of "The Atrium" at Hasenour's, to cater to a younger crowd and provide options for weddings, receptions and other gatherings requiring a formal but contemporary setting.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Yozo's was the cajun restaurant here in LEX. There were 3, I think.

That's right. There was one by Lynagh's back when I was in school. It was good stuff. Lynagh's had great burgers and it's not around anymore either.

Hmmm... so does anyone remember the place in South Hill Station? I think it had a similar name. It served a lot of soups and sandwiches and whatnot.

[The Old School JPS]

There was one by Lynagh's back when I was in school. It was good stuff. Lynagh's had great burgers and it's not around anymore either.

I didn't know that Lynagh's had closed.

About 20 years ago or so there was a bakery in that small strip mall where Lynagh's was - Dixie Cream Doughnuts or something like that, I think. Did it close down?

[surveyor]

Ehrler's Dairy.

Man, I loved going to that place as a kid. Used to be one in PRP on Greenwood Road at Sky Blue Avenue, adjacent to an ol' barber shop.

Go get a haircut, then a cone.:thumbup:

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

I didn't know that Lynagh's had closed.

About 20 years ago or so there was a bakery in that small strip mall where Lynagh's was - Dixie Cream Doughnuts or something like that, I think. Did it close down?

I graduated in 98. I think Lynagh's closed down two or three years later - someone from Lex correct me on that if I'm wrong. I don't remember any bakery in that strip mall. I remember Yozo's and some kind of diner that was pretty good and had old license plates on the wall and later some kind of vegetarian and/or all organic resturant.

[surveyor]

Regarding the evolution of Burger Queen - it evolved into Druthers before eventually going out of business.

Hardees was/is a separate burger chain, buying out Burger Chef, which was founded in the 50's.
I seem to recall that all the Burger Chefs in Louisville became Hardees way back when, but at least not prior to 80-81, because there was a Burger Chef at the interection of Watterson Trail and Bardstown Road around that time.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

Found this on Wikipedia and had one of those "oh yeah, now I remember" moments. I confused Hardees with Dairy Queen. Unless it's changed recently, the Dairy Queen in Pikeville is still the building that used to be Druthers/Burger Queen.

Several Druther's restaurants were converted to the Dairy Queen chain in the late '80s/early '90s. The company that owned Druther's - Druther's Systems Inc. - retained ownership of many of the restaurants after they became Dairy Queens. It was reported in 1996 that a company called International Dairy Queen Inc. bought 31 Dairy Queen/Brazier outlets in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana from Druther's Systems Inc. for an undisclosed price.

[TrueblueCATfan]

On the corner of Preston Hwy and Philips Lane there was a place called the Cow Palace. It changed names a few times. One of those names was Surf and Turf.
I worked at Surf and Turf while I was in high school..best salad bar around

[TrueblueCATfan]

Hasenour's / The Atrium restaurant at Barrett and Oak in Louisville.

The owners of Hasenour's had built an addition to the restaurant that was open, airy with brick archways and lots of glass. It opened out onto brickwall enclosed courtyard and patio. Excellent food and atmosphere, but a bit pricey.

When I was a wee lad in `68 or so I remember a place called "Henry's Hamburgers" on or near Algonquin Parkway.

Scotty's Diner, south Dixie Highway south of Valley Station. Strictly greasy spoon diner food, but great food.

When Jefferson Mall first opened in `77 there was a York Steakhouse we went to for dinner every saturday evening.

L & N Seafood Grille on Hurstbourne north of Shelbyville Road. Defunct by late `90s I believe. One of the few good alternatives in Louisville to the Red Lobsters chain restaurants.

New Orleans House (East). The last iteration of this restaurant was on Hikes Lane. Featured seafood buffet of all-you-can-eat crab legs, shrimp, fish, oysters, etc. You could also get surf and turf steak/lobster dinners.
The buffet was a steep (for late 70's early 80's) $20+, but well worth it for the glutton in all of us.

In the Jefferson Mall..another good place was Annabells

[TrueblueCATfan]

Po Folks on Preston Highway...loved their ice tea in the mason jars:thumbup:

[surveyor]

In the Jefferson Mall..are you talking about Annabells

I forgot about Annabelle's.

York Steakhouse was on the back side of the mall next to the arcade / game room, where Willis Music now sits.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I forgot about Annabelle's.

York Steakhouse was on the back side of the mall next to the arcade / game room, where Willis Music now sits.
come to think of it I do remember the steakhouse..I worked for Macy's for almost 20 years so we always went to Annabelles after work and to eat dinner..I always liked it ..dissappointed when it closed

[wanderingcat]

Adam's on Broadway
The Paddock
Little Inn
Cliff Hagen's
LaFlame
Stirrup Cup
Luau Room
A few for the old timers

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Yozo's -- Used to go to the Tates Creek or Euclid locations all the time. When me and my wife were dating in college we'd hit the one on Euclid followed by Common Grounds for studying for exams.


Daryl's -- I liked it, but my wife got food poisoning from the place and would never go back.

[DenCat]

Adam's on Broadway
The Paddock
Little Inn
Cliff Hagen's
LaFlame
Stirrup Cup
Luau Room
A few for the old timers
I worked at the Luau Room. As a matter of fact I delivered the last meal from the kitchen. This was the airport location. IIRC they opened up on 4th street for a short while, but it wasn't the same. The man who managed the Luau Room is John of John E's. When he started that place he took most of the people and equipment with him. You can still get some of the old favorites from the Luau Room at John E's.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Some one mentioned the New Orleans house in Louisville, the one in Lexington near the Marriott had a great buffet too.

Did anyone like Coach Pitino's old restaurant Bravo's in Victorian Square ?

[surveyor]

Two recent (one more recent than the other) extinctions that we really enjoyed was the Grisantis - Mama and Ferd. Both had great italian food, just a bit different atmosphere.

Mama Grisanti's was on DuPont Circle and Ferd Grisanti's was in J-town on Taylorsville Road.

Now that I of it, DuPont Circle also was home of The Rib Tavern. I had eaten at the location on Bardstown Road in Buechel in the early 80's. They had darn good ribs at the time, as I recall.

[surveyor]

Anybody remember Take Five in front of the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road?

[KodiakCat]

I remember eating at a place in Louisville called W.W. Cousins when I was a kid . . . similar to a Fudruckers.

In Lexington, T.W. Lee's for ribs. Also, there used to be bar & grill over on East Reynolds Rd. calle Jungle Jim's used to go there all the time.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

I remember eating at a place in Louisville called W.W. Cousins when I was a kid . . . similar to a Fudruckers.

In Lexington, T.W. Lee's for ribs. Also, there used to be bar & grill over on East Reynolds Rd. calle Jungle Jim's used to go there all the time.

It was a pretty decent "hole in the wall", I went there a few times. They even had alligator on the menu, but I never tried it.

[surveyor]

I remember eating at a place in Louisville called W.W. Cousins when I was a kid . . . similar to a Fudruckers.

In Lexington, T.W. Lee's for ribs. Also, there used to be bar & grill over on East Reynolds Rd. calle Jungle Jim's used to go there all the time.

W.W. Cousins is still in operation, I believe. Located at DuPont and Breckenridge Lane.

[Chaz]

Where o where did Chi Chi's go?
There were several small places on 4th St between
Broadway and Main that were pretty good. Remember
one place that had cheap steak dinners.

[cumberlandredskin]

Found this on Wikipedia and had one of those "oh yeah, now I remember" moments. I confused Hardees with Dairy Queen. Unless it's changed recently, the Dairy Queen in Pikeville is still the building that used to be Druthers/Burger Queen.

Several Druther's restaurants were converted to the Dairy Queen chain in the late '80s/early '90s. The company that owned Druther's - Druther's Systems Inc. - retained ownership of many of the restaurants after they became Dairy Queens. It was reported in 1996 that a company called International Dairy Queen Inc. bought 31 Dairy Queen/Brazier outlets in Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana from Druther's Systems Inc. for an undisclosed price.

I know the Burger Queen/Druthers in Harlan, Ky became Dairy Queen and I think the one in Pineville did too.

[cumberlandredskin]

When I was really young we used stop at Lums in Lexington pretty often on way to or from Cincinnati. I think it was just off exit 113 next to HoJo's.
Also used to stop at a Burger Chef just outside of Kingsport,TN quite often too. They were pretty good for a cheap price. It was still there in the early 90's as my wife wanted to go there one time. But I think it has gone out of business since.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Anybody remember Take Five in front of the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road?

I do.....that used to be our Saturday night DATE night..dinner and a movie

[TrueblueCATfan]

Where o where did Chi Chi's go?
There were several small places on 4th St between
Broadway and Main that were pretty good. Remember
one place that had cheap steak dinners.
I miss Chi Chi's....better than Tumbleweed.......IMO

[TrueblueCATfan]

W.W. Cousins is still in operation, I believe. Located at DuPont and Breckenridge Lane.

you are correct ..my sister-in -law is a manager over there

[UK78ALUM]

I had forgotten about places like the Fifth Quarter.

So, along those line...

Cork and Cleaver

Steak and Ale

[UKSam]

I miss GD Ritzy's, I'd much rather go there than a Steak N Shake.


I had lunch at ours yesterday. It is good to get a cherry coke made with real syrup.

[UedK]

I worked at the Luau Room. As a matter of fact I delivered the last meal from the kitchen. This was the airport location. IIRC they opened up on 4th street for a short while, but it wasn't the same. The man who managed the Luau Room is John of John E's. When he started that place he took most of the people and equipment with him. You can still get some of the old favorites from the Luau Room at John E's.

Den, I was going to mention the Luau Room. Remember those exotic umberlla drinks. Names like "The Navy Grog".

[UedK]

Adam's on Broadway
The Paddock
Little Inn
Cliff Hagen's
LaFlame
Stirrup Cup
Luau Room
A few for the old timers

If you frequented the Paddock (That's were I learned about beer in a frosty mug) you may remember these two Lexington restaurants that I'm struggling to remember the names of.

On the hill going down Limestone between Maxwell and High, on the right side there was a sandwich place that had a huge burger called "The Space Burger" and they had a pimento cheese sandwich that was wrapped in some sort of cheese and deep fried - it won some sort of national sandwich contest way back when and on the wall they had a big sign and plaque about the award. For the life of me I can't remember the name.

On Richmond Road (Maybe still Main Street) near Clay and Woodland avenue there was a cafeteria that was also sort of a deli. It has a great plate lunch. Anyone remember this place?

Also did anyone mention Saratoga in Lex?

Does anyone remember 'The Hungry Hermit' hamburger place in St Mathews? They had massive burgers and they came around with a cart that tons of different things on it that you could dress up the burgers with.

JOZIES Pizza at Hikes Lane and Old Bardstown Road.

Fannellies Ice Cream Parlor in Beuchel.

[jwade]

Stanley Demos' Famous Coach House in Lexington.

[UKcat]

the hickory house: Corner of taylorsville road and bardstown road in louisville............best bar-b-q rib place in the whole world (at least in my opinion).

[The Old School JPS]

Did anyone like Coach Pitino's old restaurant Bravo's in Victorian Square ?

I went there. I didn't think it was that impressive. I guess I expected more. Not bad, but not great.

Anybody remember Take Five in front of the Showcase Cinemas on Bardstown Road?

I have a lot of memories of that area and started going to movies at Showcase over 30 years ago, and I remember a lot of other defunct places around there like the Kingfish across the street, and the Admiral Benbow and Toy Tiger and Sahara, and the Sizzler just down the street from it by Bashford Manor, but I cannot at all recall Take Five. Can you tell me a bit about it?

I remember eating at a place in Louisville called W.W. Cousins when I was a kid . . . similar to a Fudruckers.

I ate there about 4 years ago or so, but I don't know if it is still there.

[surveyor]

I have a lot of memories of that area and started going to movies at Showcase over 30 years ago, and I remember a lot of other defunct places around there like the Kingfish across the street, and the Admiral Benbow and Toy Tiger and Sahara, and the Sizzler just down the street from it by Bashford Manor, but I cannot at all recall Take Five. Can you tell me a bit about it?


Take Five was in front of Showcase Cinemas - on the same lot. It was adjacent to the south entrance into the theatre complex. It was a movie themed restaurant with black and white nostalgic prints of Bogart and Bacall, Astaire, Gable, Garbo, etc. It closed in the mid-late 80's I think.

[jpay]

It would be the Bluegrass! Great Joint,,, Was in business for over 50 years. Car hops. It was awesome!!! The cruise was (The Bluegrass, to Micky D's, to the BBF, To the Outpost)... what a cruise! Don't know what was better. The Food,The cars, or the girls.....!!!!! Awe the late 60's and early 70's were have the gone...

[lighthouse]

When I was a wee lad in `68 or so I remember a place called "Henry's Hamburgers" on or near Algonquin Parkway.

It was on Cane Run close to Algonquin. Everytime I played softball at Shawnee Park, I couldn't wait to get several burgers at Henry's.

[CATHYnKY]

Little Abner's. Can't remember where it was in Louisville. We went there for our birthdays a lot. Loved seeing them bring out that giant banana split (?) with the sparklers going.

Are Steak and Ale's still around anywhere?

[DonnieKat]

Moore's Bar and Grill. This was a more of a bar than restaurant, but they had the best cheeseburgers I've ever eaten. It was on Preston Street near Eastern Parkway.

Banquet Table. Very good eats.

Blue Boar. Good cafertieria style food. I think the one on Eastern Parkway used to be a HoJo's.

Longino's. On Poplar Level Road, greta food at a great price.

I grew up just off Preston by Emery-Bosse funeral home. I remember every one of these except the Banquet Table. Moore's moved wayyyy down Preston near the 264 exit for a time. They have the best fish sandwiches and oyster rolls.

Blue Boar is now a Liquour World. The Walgreen's has always been there.

There are still some good ones in the area. Hickory House has damn good q and Dairy Kastle is the best.

[DonnieKat]

Fudruckers still around? One up here closed.

Jerry's?

Some of the cheap steakhouse chains?

Fudrucker's is still goin' strong in Atlanta.

[cumberlandredskin]

Fudrucker's is still goin' strong in Atlanta.

Northern Virginia too. Plenty of them around me.

[lighthouse]

Little Abner's. Can't remember where it was in Louisville. We went there for our birthdays a lot. Loved seeing them bring out that giant banana split (?) with the sparklers going.

Are Steak and Ale's still around anywhere?

Li'l Abners was on Grinstead Dr. just off Cherokee Pkwy. BIG burgers and the Stanaslouse(sp) was the HUGE banana split. If you ate the whole thing, you got your name on a plaque and the second one free. :icon_rolleyes:

[CATHYnKY]

Li'l Abners was on Grinstead Dr. just off Cherokee Pkwy. BIG burgers and the Stanaslouse(sp) was the HUGE banana split. If you ate the whole thing, you got your name on a plaque and the second one free. :icon_rolleyes:

I remember the plaque. Heck, our family of 5 would split one and we had plenty.

[Chaz]

Li'l Abners was on Grinstead Dr. just off Cherokee Pkwy. BIG burgers and the Stanaslouse(sp) was the HUGE banana split. If you ate the whole thing, you got your name on a plaque and the second one free. :icon_rolleyes:
Loved that place. Just couldn't rmember where it was located. Would have thought it be in the frankfort Rd area. Wonder what happened to it? Did it possibly burn down?

[DenCat]

I grew up just off Preston by Emery-Bosse funeral home. I remember every one of these except the Banquet Table. Moore's moved wayyyy down Preston near the 264 exit for a time. They have the best fish sandwiches and oyster rolls.

Blue Boar is now a Liquour World. The Walgreen's has always been there.

There are still some good ones in the area. Hickory House has damn good q and Dairy Kastle is the best.
You won't believe this but, so did I. I lived on Melford.

[PeachtreeCat]

Little Abner's. Can't remember where it was in Louisville. We went there for our birthdays a lot. Loved seeing them bring out that giant banana split (?) with the sparklers going.

Are Steak and Ale's still around anywhere?

There is one in downtown Catlanta!!!

[Terry L. Wildcat]

I miss The Paddock and the Saratoga in Chevy Chase...I had my first "legal" drink at the Saratoga with my dad on my 21st birthday. Once those dreaded long-hairs started hanging out at the Paddock the local police loved to raid the place and do ID checks. I had an officer ask me for an ID and I gave him my UK student ID...after looking it over he said it didn't have my age on it and I told him he didn't ask for my age ;) Having long hair in Lexington in 1970 sure got you extra attention.

[The Old School JPS]

I miss The Paddock and the Saratoga in Chevy Chase...I had my first "legal" drink at the Saratoga with my dad on my 21st birthday. Once those dreaded long-hairs started hanging out at the Paddock the local police loved to raid the place and do ID checks. I had an officer ask me for an ID and I gave him my UK student ID...after looking it over he said it didn't have my age on it and I told him he didn't ask for my age ;) Having long hair in Lexington in 1970 sure got you extra attention.

Ha - that reminds me of an exchange a friend of mine had long ago. A police officer saw him hauling some beer at a tailgate.

Officer: Where's your ID?

(long pause)

My friend: In my wallet.

[hoosierhateruklover]

I'm hearing that the first Long John Silver's was here in Lexington at the corner of Nicholasville and Southland. Does anybody remember it? I don't see a building on that block today that looks like it use to be it.

[moody85]

I'm hearing that the first Long John Silver's was here in Lexington at the corner of Nicholasville and Southland. Does anybody remember it? I don't see a building on that block today that looks like it use to be it.


IIRC wasn't it on Southland Drive near the railroad overpass? Isn't that small building still there?

[UK78ALUM]

I'm hearing that the first Long John Silver's was here in Lexington at the corner of Nicholasville and Southland. Does anybody remember it? I don't see a building on that block today that looks like it use to be it.

OK, here goes. I was actually in that building this morning. LJS was owned by Jerrico. Jerry's was at the location you mentioned, and it is now a Denny's. That restaurant is physically attached to an office building that used to be Jerrico's corporate HQ and is now our (Central Baptist) fitness center and offices. The LJS itself was down Southland drive just past the railroad overpass.

[Blue Heaven]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned Po'Folks. They had some really good food and was located on Preston Highway in Louisville.
Boston Market was pretty good.
Cow Palace on Preston Highway someone had mentioned on here but it wasn't at Phillips Lane. It was near McCawley, the road that takes you the back way to Jefferson Mall. It closed because it was an absolutely filthy place. It could never pass the health departments inspections. I'll never forget being around 7 or 8 years old eating there with my family and seeing roaches on the floor.

[UK78ALUM]

Two more from my dating days:

Magic Pan Creperie in the civic center

High on Rose

[hoosierhateruklover]

Thank you Moody and UK78Alum for answering questions my research couldn't. That's very interesting. Also, Jerrico owned Fazoli's. They started out as Gratzi's. Was there a first Gratzi's/Fazoli's or were there several opened at the same time? With Jerry's, Denny's, and Fazoli's being linked to LJS who is now linked to Pizza Hit, Taco Bell, A&W, and KFC thru YUM who is next to Papa John's in Louisville it reminds me of that song It's A Small World Afterall.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I don't believe anyone has mentioned Po'Folks. They had some really good food and was located on Preston Highway in Louisville.
Boston Market was pretty good.
Cow Palace on Preston Highway someone had mentioned on here but it wasn't at Phillips Lane. It was near McCawley, the road that takes you the back way to Jefferson Mall. It closed because it was an absolutely filthy place. It could never pass the health departments inspections. I'll never forget being around 7 or 8 years old eating there with my family and seeing roaches on the floor.

I did (post #29)..becasue I loved their ice tea in the mason jars:thumbup:

[moody85]

Thank you Moody and UK78Alum for answering questions my research couldn't. That's very interesting. Also, Jerrico owned Fazoli's. They started out as Gratzi's. Was there a first Gratzi's/Fazoli's or were there several opened at the same time? With Jerry's, Denny's, and Fazoli's being linked to LJS who is now linked to Pizza Hit, Taco Bell, A&W, and KFC thru YUM who is next to Papa John's in Louisville it reminds me of that song It's A Small World Afterall.

Yep, one of the first Gratzi's was on North Broadway near I-75. I don't know why the name was changed. Lunch options on the north side of Lexington are limited, so anytime something new opens it's packed. That's what happened.

*Bonus fact - it's on the same parcel of land where once stood a Lum's!*

[boomdaddy]

Where o where did Chi Chi's go?
There were several small places on 4th St between
Broadway and Main that were pretty good. Remember
one place that had cheap steak dinners.

I remember Chi Chis in Lex. It was the worst mexican eatery of all time and it was a chain to boot. There used to be a waiting list, because there just wasn't any competition. The poor Lexintonians just didn't have a choice. They could eat poor, fake mexican food or do without.

[capcat]

I remember Chi Chis in Lex. It was the worst mexican eatery of all time and it was a chain to boot. There used to be a waiting list, because there just wasn't any competition. The poor Lexintonians just didn't have a choice. They could eat poor, fake mexican food or do without.
Many places mentioned were chain restaurants, though. As far as the fakeness, I'd say that most of what we have here in the US is our version of Mexican food rather than authentic. Whether the cut of meat, preparation or choice, what I've had of authentic Mexican food is different than what I'm used to and not as appealing.

[BowlingGreenUKGrad]

I'd still like to hear if anyone remembers the place in South Hill Station? It served soups and sandwiches and was somewhat eclectic. This would have been in the mid-to late-90s. I think it was still there when I graduated in 1998.

Also, does anyone remember the Intermezzo in POT? It was sort of a coffee shop that served fancy gormet sandwiches for lunch.

[UK78ALUM]

How could we have forgotten the Starlight Drive In? It was the KFC on the corner of Nicholasville and Stone Road (at least I think it was Stone Road).

Several street scenes from the James Bond movie Goldfinger were shot in Lexington, and the Starlight was in one of them.

John and Carol Rasmussen own the KFC on Nicholasville Road. Long-time Lexingtonians will recall the restaurant started out as the Starlight Drive-In. It opened in 1954 and started selling Kentucky Fried Chicken one year later. At that time, the restaurant still served its regular menu along with KFC.

"Dad was the first franchisee in Kentucky and the third in the country," John Rasmussen said.

http://www.chevychaser.com/images/z.gif In the mid 1980s, Rasmussen's father decided to sell only KFC. So they tore down the old Starlight and reopened with the familiar KFC design. The restaurant recently underwent another renovation and Rasmussen said that occurs whenever KFC makes significant changes in design.

[ukwebfan]

Whether the cut of meat, preparation or choice, what I've had of authentic Mexican food is different than what I'm used to and not as appealing. My wife's a Taco Bell girl and loathes the authentic version. It's more Yum brainwashing if you ask me because imo, there is no comparison.

[ukfanman]

In regard to the VERY first Long John Silvers building. As you turn right onto Sothland Drive from Nicholasville Road, the very first LJS was the first building that sit to the right after you go under the railroad overpass on Southland. After LJS closed it, it became a sandwich shop and is now a hair salon.

Other restaurants that are long gone:

Tommies on South Broadway, 5 hotdogs for a dollar.

Cape Coder in Chevy Chase and off Southland Drive

Lums, where the Ketch is now.

Ground Round on Southland Drive, first place where you could throw peanut shells on the floor.

Gringo's on Southland Drive, some great Mexican Food.

Arthur Treacher's Fish And Chips. Didn't last too long but was it good.

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

Add Arnold's in Etown to the list.

[Dwight Schrute]

I graduated in 98. I think Lynagh's closed down two or three years later - someone from Lex correct me on that if I'm wrong. I don't remember any bakery in that strip mall. I remember Yozo's and some kind of diner that was pretty good and had old license plates on the wall and later some kind of vegetarian and/or all organic resturant.

Lynagh's is still open, though I seem to think they changed their name recently (as in, the last 6 months).

[Dwight Schrute]

Add Arnold's in Etown to the list.

Yep, I thought Arnold himself was a bit of an arse, his coffee was delicious. I had the best cup of coffee I've ever had in his restaurant.

[UKALUM93]

Lynagh's is still open, though I seem to think they changed their name recently (as in, the last 6 months).

Yep, still there and the burgers are still tasty.

[oruacat2]

Anyone else remember the BBQ joint "Sauceman's" that was located on the top floor of Festival Market in the late '80s-early '90s?

Nothing remarkable about their food, but they had small patios that jutted-out from high above Main Street and they served pitchers of beer with little regard to "over-21" laws. lol

KD

[oruacat2]

Two more from my dating days:

Magic Pan Creperie in the civic center

High on Rose

When I moved to Lexington in 1987, High on Rose was a complete dump. Dirty, nasty - like it might fall down around you at any moment. BUT - they didn't "card" either, so that was a favorite hangout of frat-rats who weren't quite 21 yet.

Eventually the place went under and may have even been condemned.
In the mid-90s one of my buddies tried to open a new bar in that same location, but the building was in such disrepair that his entire budget would've been spent just trying to bring it back up to code.

Eventually (2001?) HoR did reopen under new management, vastly improved their menu, and became a cool little hotspot again. They'd frequently have a jazz musician or an accoustic act, and for a short time at least thrived. I'm not sure if they're still open now or not.

KD

[UK78ALUM]

When I moved to Lexington in 1987, High on Rose was a complete dump. Dirty, nasty - like it might fall down around you at any moment.

I guess its high point was around 1978 or 1979 when the movie "Steel" was being shot all over Lexington, and HoR was the hangout, as I recall. There was a stage on top of the POT on the UK campus, but alot of the filming was done on Kincaid towers, which was under construction and was the whole point of the movie. And it was from Kincaid towers that the stuntman jumped to his death when he hit the airbag so hard that he went through it and impacted Vine Street.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SQB9TXQEL._SS500_.jpg