Golden Corral, Pancho's and Other Low-Brow Eateries of Your Youth

[conVINCEd 21468]

2 minutes ago, Deej said:

There was an all you can eat Popeyes in San Marcos in the 90's.

Friend’s dad was a regional manager for Popeyes when I was in high school. Every Popeyes is AYCE when your buddy has a massive stack of coupons for free 2 pc. meals..

[South Austin 51885]

35 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I should downvote you for speaking against Jim’s. 

Sorry, Jim.

[956 Worldwide 34152]

On 11/20/2021 at 9:32 PM, FirstTimeCaller said:

So was it just youth or did something about restaurants back then just hit harder? Sometimes I think about eating at a dine-in Pizza Hut with red plastic cups, wood/brass decorations, dim lighting, and crummy arcade games... and damn if I don't want to go hunt one down for the nostalgia.

Look at this. Glorious. Classy. An experience. I smell the breadsticks and pan pizza. 
 

 

[Mo Horn 8764]

45 minutes ago, South Austin said:

There used to be one on South Lamar close to Ben White, but I think that closed a while ago.  I've never set foot in one, but I always thought the opposite - that it was a shittier Golden Corral.  Jim's seems the same way, but also have never been there.

 

36 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

I should downvote you for speaking against Jim’s. 

In college I took a date to Jim's for dinner. Yup, I was a smooth operator. It was our one and only date. 

[Paco 1905]

  Jim's seems the same way, but also have never been there.

You shut your whore mouth. I'm at Jim's right now and it's a warm glorious fried slice of America.

[South Austin 51885]

Shit, didn't know I was posting in the middle of a Jim's stockholder meeting.

[4th&Five 41361]

I thought about bringing Jim's up because we ate there so much when I was a kid but I still go and it's fantastic.

[RollLeft 5038]

50 minutes ago, Deej said:

There was an all you can eat Popeyes in San Marcos in the 90's.

Popeye's?  Everyone who lived in San Marcos, from that era, knows that you if you ate chicken you bought from Gil's Fried Chicken. Snack Pac's for the win.   

[RollLeft 5038]

27 minutes ago, 4th&Five said:

I thought about bringing Jim's up because we ate there so much when I was a kid but I still go and it's fantastic.

I was never allowed the pink panther pancakes, damnit!!

[deadshank 24645]

We had a DQ right around the corner from our house.  My old man would drive all the way across town to eat at Dairy Queen Brazier because it was so much better (used charcoal to cremate the burgers) and, well, he was my old man and he had his reasons such as “shut up, kid” and “want me to beat you to death?”  

Edited November 23, 2021 by deadshank

[Brisketexan 104061]

2 hours ago, South Austin said:

Jim's seems the same way, but also have never been there.

Whoa, now....

 

Jim's is actually pretty damned good Texas diner fare.  Great biscuits, a really good cheeseburger and fries, and their chorizo con huevo tacos are top-notch.  My mexican grandpa always wanted at least one trip for a Jim's burger every time he visited us.

[South Austin 51885]

6 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

 

Briskethorn here threatened me with violence. I'm surprised. I post here, all the time, and I usually get good service until today.

[Stunns38 3286]

Does Furr’s still exist? I can’t find an open location. 
 
I always thought of it as a nicer Golden Corral. 

I think there’s still one in Arlington off I-20. Or maybe COVID did it in. It was relatively new.

[Nueces River Rat 5500]

5 hours ago, ScottS said:

Red Line Burgers still exists.  They have a location in Portland on Wildcat out near the Gregory city line.  Near one of the entrances to the GCCV facility.  They claim no affiliation with the food truck in Corpus that uses the name.

https://redlineburgers.com/faq/

I may have to go check it out one day when I'm out that way.  I recall the chain popped up everywhere from the RGV to San Antonio back in the late 80's into the early 90's and it had a sister brand with the exact same food called Rally's.  Now the former buildings that remain in Corpus are drive up Taquerias.   

Speaking of Corpus....   Boat -n- Net used to rock for a cheap meal!    Drive thru with a PVC pipe that carried your voice to the window!  LOL.   Found out a few years ago, the gentlemen who owned all the Boat-n-Nets was an immigrant from Hong Kong  and he donated a nice chunk of money to the A&M Corpus for their Business College.   I think most of them have closed down, but maybe a few remain.  

[Nueces River Rat 5500]

2 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Furrs was a pretty damn good facsimile of Luby’s for the Panhandle/West Texas/Hobbs area. It did turn into a shitty buffet style towards the end.

Jims is awesome and miles ahead of Golden Corral, it’s also not a buffet. 

The other Cafeteria I recall that was big in the RGV back in the day and maybe elsewhere was Wyatt's 

 

[Nueces River Rat 5500]

2 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Look at this. Glorious. Classy. An experience. I smell the breadsticks and pan pizza. 
 

 

I'd love to have one of those for a future Man Cave.   My kids think it was boring that once upon a time, Pizza Hut used to be one our hangouts.   Especially on Tuesday nights when they had buffet night.   Fun times!

[Underdog 28359]

5 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

At some point, all Chelsea Puba turned into karaoke night, every night 

And here I just thought I had established a “residency” like Elvis in Vegas at CSP….  Bubble burst. 

[4th&Five 41361]

1 hour ago, Nueces River Rat said:

The other Cafeteria I recall that was big in the RGV back in the day and maybe elsewhere was Wyatt's 

 

There was a Wyatt’s in Barton Creek mall in the 80’s. My mom took us every time my dad traveled for work, so about once a week. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 21767]

4 hours ago, davidg said:

If you happen to be in Borger or Monahans, you can stop by one of the new Bennigan's that are now operating in Texas.   How far would you drive for a Monte Cristo?

I like Kenny and Ziggys Monte Cristo

[tx 3 putt 75810]

4 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

I like Kenny and Ziggys Monte Cristo

What ???

[NeverMarryAStripper 21767]

Kenny and Ziggys New York delicatessen on Post Oak

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by NeverMarryAStripper

[Underdog 28359]

4 hours ago, 4th&Five said:

I thought about bringing Jim's up because we ate there so much when I was a kid but I still go and it's fantastic.

Breakfast was solid at Jim’s, was in the rotation for Saturday breakfast when working at AMD.  Also loved their chili chopped steak. 

[Underdog 28359]

3 hours ago, RollLeft said:

Popeye's?  Everyone who lived in San Marcos, from that era, knows that you if you ate chicken you bought from Gil's Fried Chicken. Snack Pac's for the win.   

Ahem... 

Managed at this location a couple years, a lot of fun back in them days.  Always mad it a point to drive by the park by Stratham on way to bank during summer/school in session.  

[zlavydra 2111]

23 hours ago, South Austin said:

I always thought Gumby's Pizza was solid, and I say this having actually eating it a few times while sober.  Certainly better than Ci-Ci's.

Remember getting the 20" pizza delivered to the 10th floor of Jester West a few times. I think it was less than $10, incuding a generous gratuity.

[Brisketexan 104061]

16 hours ago, Underdog said:

Ahem... 

Managed at this location a couple years, a lot of fun back in them days.  Always mad it a point to drive by the park by Stratham on way to bank during summer/school in session.  

I gotta say....I think that Church's spicy is on par with Popeye's.

Speaking of Popeye's, when I was a kid, many of our family "vacations" were just mom and me tagging along with dad as he took work trips through south Louisiana (I spent a lotta time in Lafayette, Eunice, Baton Rouge, New Iberia, St. Francisville, Houma, etc.).  Back then, Popeyes ONLY existed in La.  So, one night on every trip, that was the dinner plan -- we'd pick up a big order of Popeyes, get some cokes from the motel vending machine, and eat delicious fried chicken, often sitting on the curb outside our motel room in the warm and sticky La. night.  I honestly looked forward to that dinner every single trip.

[billfromlaketravis 11299]

I've never eaten at Pancho's. We tried once and bailed after taking a look at the buffet. Sly Turner you can come pick up my Houstonian card. 

[Underdog 28359]

1 hour ago, Brisketexan said:

I gotta say....I think that Church's spicy is on par with Popeye's.

GD that shit was a pain when it rolled out, having to dedicate a stove or two for spicy and also switching out flour tray/bin and batter.  But it was pretty good.  

[Brisketexan 104061]

GD that shit was a pain when it rolled out, having to dedicate a stove or two for spicy and also switching out flour tray/bin and batter.  But it was pretty good.  

Still is. But they regularly run out. “Do you want to fill out your order with regular?” Nope, I don’t.

[Guest]

Underwoods is a place I thought was great as a child.

Swung into Brownwood a couple years ago and stopped in there.  Walked in and walked right out.  There are WAY too many great Casas de Cue to tolerate that bullshit. Free ice cream don’t cover it.

[Steel Shank 9350]

I'm getting kinda hungry.

[Brisketexan 104061]

1 hour ago, slorch said:

Underwoods is a place I thought was great as a child.

Swung into Brownwood a couple years ago and stopped in there.  Walked in and walked right out.  There are WAY too many great Casas de Cue to tolerate that bullshit. Free ice cream don’t cover it.

Yeah.....it was "legendary."  So I stopped in one time on a road trip for work.

NOPE.

[Underdog 28359]

3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

Still is. But they regularly run out. “Do you want to fill out your order with regular?” Nope, I don’t.

Church’s also had solid catfish, gizzards and livers and a chicken sandwich that was just chicken patty, mayo(@futureman) on a bun.  The roast chicken never really took off and they had just started the honey butter biscuits when I left them, still missed their dinner rolls. 

[Bevo&Pevo 4945]

X2 on the gizzards

[kurioster 66]

wife and I hit up the Jim's at the Y in Oak Hill 2x a month before we moved back to the sticks where I grew up.  Driving an hour to Austin for a fancy meal at Red Lobster/Golden Corral ( ice cream!) was quite the childhood treat

[Hermanator 6834]

On 11/24/2021 at 12:55 PM, slorch said:

Underwoods is a place I thought was great as a child.

Swung into Brownwood a couple years ago and stopped in there.  Walked in and walked right out.  There are WAY too many great Casas de Cue to tolerate that bullshit. Free ice cream don’t cover it.

We went there all the time when driving through to visit family. But we never got bbq there. The fried chicken was damn good

[Horn Draoi 254]

6 hours ago, Hermanator said:

We went there all the time when driving through to visit family. But we never got bbq there. The fried chicken was damn good

Brownwood has been a BBQ desert for at least 30 years.  Overcooked, dry, and stringy is the Brownwood way.  If you have to eat there, go downtown to The Turtle (no ‘cue) or drive to Coleman and eat pizza at the place downtown.  I fondly remember the Underwood’s of my youth in Wichita Falls, Brownwood and Lubbock-now, just say no.  Yet the place is usually busy……..

[Hornbeliever 704]

Our rotation for our once-a-week eating out experiences was:

Long John Silver's (you are wrong if you didn't respect that chicken plank)

Fuddruckers

Little Ceasars

And when it was a birthday or graduation or something special, it was Steak & Ale.   Where I'm disappointed no one has brought up how great the bread was and how the salad bar made you feel like you owned bitcoin since 2015, bruh. 

[Hermanator 6834]

Fuddruckers was a favorite when I was a kid. I remember the exact same concept called Wallbangers first then Fuddruckers came in. Used to smoke a doob behind the movie theater then go eat at the fuddruckers next door before a movie with the buddies back in the 90s

[Landomatic 3813]

4 hours ago, Hornbeliever said:

Long John Silver's (you are wrong if you didn't respect that chicken plank)

With a side of extra batter crumbs. Nothing a little triple bypass surgery wouldn’t fix

[Underdog 28359]

4 hours ago, Hornbeliever said:

Long John Silver's (you are wrong if you didn't respect that chicken plank)

You’regoddamnright.gif

 

[Hornbeliever 704]

16 minutes ago, Landomatic said:

With a side of extra batter crumbs. Nothing a little triple bypass surgery wouldn’t fix

I'd go back and ask for 2nds on crunchies (for years, mind you).  I'm in my mid 40s and amazed my cholesterol doesn't have a siren going off yet.

[Landomatic 3813]

28 minutes ago, Hornbeliever said:

I'd go back and ask for 2nds on crunchies (for years, mind you).  I'm in my mid 40s and amazed my cholesterol doesn't have a siren going off yet.

Same. Some of the things I used to eat the shit out of when I was young, make my arteries clog just thinking about them now. Amazing. Getting old sucks

[pch 1259]

On 11/23/2021 at 12:48 PM, RollLeft said:

Popeye's?  Everyone who lived in San Marcos, from that era, knows that you if you ate chicken you bought from Gil's Fried Chicken. Snack Pac's for the win.   

I was more interested in eating a couple of Manske rolls at Gil's broiler-screw that yardbird.

[billfromlaketravis 11299]

On 11/26/2021 at 2:55 PM, Hornbeliever said:

I'd go back and ask for 2nds on crunchies (for years, mind you).  I'm in my mid 40s and amazed my cholesterol doesn't have a siren going off yet.

Somebody on Surly suggested the chicken planks with malt vinegar. It was incredible. 
 

The closest Long John’s to me is in Katy. 30 minute drive. I have to be very motivated to go eat there. 

Edited November 27, 2021 by billfromlaketravis

[Wild Bill 323]

54 minutes ago, billfromlaketravis said:

Somebody on Surly suggested the chicken planks with malt vinegar. It was incredible. 
 

The closest Long John’s to me is in Katy. 30 minute drive. I have to be very motivated to go eat there. 

You do not want to go to that LJS in Katy. I have tried to go there twice and walked out after taking a look at the employees they had working. One of them started a fight with a customer.

[billfromlaketravis 11299]

3 minutes ago, Wild Bill said:

You do not want to go to that LJS in Katy. I have tried to go there twice and walked out after taking a look at the employees they had working. One of them started a fight with a customer.

Can't be worse than the location in Greenspoint? 

[tx 3 putt 75810]

19 minutes ago, Wild Bill said:

You do not want to go to that LJS in Katy. I have tried to go there twice and walked out after taking a look at the employees they had working. One of them started a fight with a customer.

 

that's literally fuck around and find out !

[salonghorn 204]

Lots of talk about Jims. If you lived on the south side of San Antonio in the 60s the place to go was Jims Frontier on Goliad Road. The Flame on Loop 13 was also pretty good. 

[Guest]

On 11/23/2021 at 4:18 PM, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Kenny and Ziggys New York delicatessen on Post Oak

 

$24 sandwiches. Just like I remember growing up.

[Rip76 4885]

On 11/23/2021 at 9:11 AM, Brisketexan said:

 

2 - last time I was in a Chelsea Street Pub was 20+ years ago.  We hit the one in Lakeline with some friends to grab some beers and nachos before going to see a movie.  But it turned out it was karaoke night, and that shit was a BIG deal.  We ended up ditching the movie, and just sitting at our table drinking all night and laughing our asses off and letting our jaws drop at the numerous VERY serious musical performances people put on.

 

Chelsea Street Pub in Baybrook Mall when I was a kid.