Petrogiannis has also restored the the 24/7 hours of operation. The Big Greek Diner typically gives you a lot of food for the money. The gauzy visions of a prosperous and dynamic Center City that once seemed like pipe dreams have, in large part, become reality. website lives in perpetuity. The is an ad of the Blu Comet Diner on page 3 of the Website. The story of Philadelphias finest French restaurant unraveled into Photograph by Dick Swanson/The National Archive, The opening of Return of the Jedi at the SamEric theater, better known as the Boyd Theater, which is now slated for demolition. pleasure of visiting the Queen Village location know that theres nothing It was the kind of spot where everyone felt at home, the drinks were cheap, and the food was simplebut delicious. Northern Liberties was the land located north of the original 1682 boundary of Philadelphia and early purchasers of land in Philadelphia would also be granted a lot in Northern Liberties. Photograph by the Associated Press, SEPTAs Broad Street Line, as pictured in Philadelphia magazine in 1980. Map. The buildings were built between 1859 and 1918. Melrose really had some good food under the Kubachs. Some great diners in S. Jersey. Found this pic of the Quaker Diner on Rising Sun https://foxchasereview.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/img_1435.jpg. 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! Alexanders transitioned into a new concept very successfully under that same family but the Oak Lane Diner was sold. The real estate developer Ken Weinstein loves Germantown Avenue. Its almost cute.. Remember when farm-to-table was an exciting new thing rather than a Portlandia punchline? If you removed the cover from the Oregons menu and dropped it on a table at the similarly-sized Penrose diner on the other end of South Philly, no one would likely notice for a week or so. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . There is alot of history to that piece of property. I look for a good value balanced against the general experience. Frank Rizzo dominated City Hall, first as police commissioner, then as mayor. Diner long gone. Or that the chef erred on the salty side with the otherwise tender pot roast? A hole-in-the-wall with the best Chinese food in Philadelphia. The eggs were so-so, the homefries were lame, and the bacon was the thinnest cut Id ever seen, it was literally transparent. The transformation will shatter your heart to see how the owners destroyed one of the worlds most gorgeous authentic diners and covered over or demolished the surface materials and original fixtures, most of which you cannot get or remake anywhere. From 1994 until 2008, The Striped Bass graced the expense account set with This city has been the butt of jokes for so long going back to W.C. Fields, after all that its still hard to believe that newcomers and investors finally consider it worthy. Great memories! worldwide team of discerning professionalsand your views, too. During the 1980s, many Vietnamese and other Asian immigrants settled in the city, particularly in the Italian Market area. Silk City, currently owned by restauranteur Mark Bee, has diversified its revenue stream with the night club and bar which frees it from relying upon the weekend breakfast trade that so many smaller diners live or die by. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Stephen Starr converted a mid-1960s Fodero diner and appropriately swanked the joint up making it one of the citys best known martini lounges. From World War II until the 1980s, the Philadelphia area was home to many of these "old line, crockery, silver and glass restaurants." There were 24 Linton's, 44 Horn and Hardart's and 18 Dewey's. . Your email address will not be published. Crime spiked. It isnt constructed on-site, but rather brought to a semi-permanent location. Charcoal House Nick Evlon 1836 Lovering Ave, Wilmington, DE 1973-1980s Closed Charlotte's Restaurant Jimmy Costalas 3207 W. Chester Pike, Newtown Sq., PA 1991-Present Operating . | Photo: Randy Garbin. He claims to know all the dinners. 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. But Chifa was also the first Garces restaurant to falter, closing after four years in business. Casa Del Marisco is a sports bar on 5th Street. In 2006, Michael Petrogiannis bought this one too and proceeded to make significant interior renovations that improved upon the diners formerly dark and ponderous atmosphere. Airys cedarbrook plaza. I just couldnt remember where it was. And they did. Also, I didnt have an omelet at the Oregon, but I can say with some authority after trying dozens of times in places just like these, the Big Greek Diner cant make a proper omelet to save their lives. 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. Ellwood or Holy Angels? | Photo: Randy Garbin. Commissary, were expanding palates throughout the region with international A DeLorean is no longer necessary to return to the golden age of MTV and the Brat Pack. It was launched by Howard Johnson himself in the 1920s as a soda fountain and lunch counter, and by 1954 there were 400 outposts in 32 states. It all shuttered by late 1999. Its ashame it changed hands so many times after the Ritz and failed each and every time. After the end of the Laotian Civil War associated with the Vietnam War in the 1970s, a group of Hmong refugees settled in Philadelphia. 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. PEOPLE OFTEN FEEL sorry for me because they assume Center City wasnt a real neighborhood. A full ten years before the culture rediscovered the vintage diner, Joe Morozin wanted his new diner to look like something out of the 1930s, but at about six times the size. But it was. The combo comes, oddly enough, with a dollop of tuna salad as well as fried shrimp, a crab cake, schrod, and scallops, my particular favorite. Or maybe I just miss my old neighborhood. 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. The family also owned Alexanders restaurant in Abington up the road. These days it serves up Mexican fare as Jessis Diner behind a horrible brick faade which was installed by the previous owner. Greater Philadelphia's restaurants have illuminated the region's socioeconomic, cultural, and culinary trends while also providing sustenance for millions. In 2000, he openly declared that love when he slipped on its fingerone shiny gem in the form of a stainless-steel clad diner trucked in from Wilkes-Barre. One thing remains the same, though: the rats. This was the center of our universe. 182059211. In total, his restaurants represent about 900 seats. Polynesian-themed, date night spot on the 1700 block of Walnut Street. . that made it all possible. The Dom was a hub for the area for a long time. 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. In 1998, with diners at the peak of their resurgence, Ken tossed the idea into mix, and the hunt commenced. 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? Enjoyed this article, but am left wondering: Whats up with Bobs being more or less in a graveyard? It was torn down in 2006. I only ate there once and the food was so-so, but I had made the mistake of ordering from the dinner menu, when everyone knows the best food at any diner is breakfast food. Hard, uncomfortable seats, tables cleaned with the same hot tea you drank, long waits for . My dad used to take us to Dee Dees for dinner when I was a kid We lived on Belgrade St. back then. Twenty-four diners now operate in Philadelphia, down from 30 in 1990 when I first toured the city | Photo: Randy Garbin. Jasons exotically beautiful mom lived on Pine Street, but his dads place was on the Square. Only bother to go here if youre a hard-core diner fanatic. Last week, Jeff Gordinier of The New York Times wrote a profile of chef Kevin Sbraga and his new restaurant Juniper Commons. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut , Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. By Antonio Gardella. 1. Trolley Car Diner, 7619 Germantown Avenue. 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. There is also Chung Sing, an American-chinese diner on Lancaster Avenue near Ardmore. Parents kept their stashes in the open. But no, the owners just had to go and crash land this beauty into a sea of ugly. If anybody rememberit. AS A PERSON WHO works in Center City and who writes about real estate and economic development I cant claim to be disappointed by downtowns success. The Oregon Diner Restaurant, 302 West Oregon Avenue, The Oregon Diner has endured at least three renovations since its installation in the 1960s. Back then, these were not only the primary vectors for graffiti, but had torn and broken seats and rusted poles. Last year, Philadelphia was feted in the New York Times, the Toronto Star, the Guardian, the Washington Post, Food & Wine, the Globe and Mail, Cond Nast Traveler, Bon Apptit, and countless online outlets. Fond memories. SEPTA PCC car 2710 (refurbished 1980) on Girard Ave. approaching Lancaster Ave., West Philadelphia, 1985 5 The Philadelphia Police Department was using both the mid-size Ford LTD and full-size Crown Victoria platforms at that time, Philadelphia, 1985 Lots of graffiti on everything, and a general fear of walking down the street late at night. What Philadelphia looked like in the 1980s Through These Fascinating Photos. The city's vibrant restaurant scene has grown tremendously in recent years. Building is still there. Putting one in a museum is all well and good, but if you cant actually eat there whats the point? Alex, you are correct. 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 . In the case of the Broad Street Diner, they also replaced a shoddy vinyl awning that adorned the restaurantfor years. Red Robin on Frankford Avenue was well liked. At least another great concept tookModo Mios place at 2nd and Girard: Cadence, our pick for 2018s Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant. 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. In 1968, they traded up to a ten-sectioned monstrosity that Diners of Pennsylvania describes as an Arabian fantasy of stone, beige stucco, and arched windows. The family decided on thestyle after a trip to Las Vegas and, to the best of anyones knowledge, Fodero built none others like it. All the golden goddesses! New Boulevard Diner, 11650 Roosevelt Boulevard, New Boulevard recently changed their name to the Five Star Diner. Mostly latchkey kids, we stuck together after class ended. (215) 735-5562. 11531 reviews. The banquet room at Tiffanys has been used as a filming location for Pennsylvania Lottery commercials. A proper omelet is carefully fried in a well-seasoned aluminum pan with the filling folded in. I worked there as a dishwasher in the 1980s. Jose Garces might have had historical preservation in mind when he took graced the corner of 17th and Chancellor streets for nearly 40 years. Her name was Taz Lang and she was brutally murdered. Its likely thatno other builder constructed more diners than Jerry OMahony. Vetri Cucina. Can a diner still call itself Jewish-American after a Greek immigrant buys it? He gave me my first French kiss at the TLA, back when it was a movie theater that showed cartoons during the day, repertory film at night, and Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight. People might offer you drugs. My father and his partner owned the Domino Diner up until 1986. Find out more about his work and writings at www.randygarbin.com. I lived in Oak Lane fom 1939 to @1943and after the war from 1946 to 1954. flavors. | Photo: Randy Garbin. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Last summer, Kurt Vile played a concert in that now clean, bright courtyard, and I looked at the people in line at food trucks, friends meeting up and hugging each other, people dancing, and I thought, What the hell happened to this place? That courtyard has gone from 12 Monkeys to Frank Capra on Ecstasy. . Zounds was rough. The restaurant had been rated America's finest French restaurant, and the Mobil Travel Guide traditionally awarded it five stars. Kabobeesh serves Indian and Pakistani food. My family worked and owned these places so any info and or photos would be much appreciated. My grandfather, Peter, built the heritage diner and then my dad, Steve, changed it to Sophias Diner and Stacys Pub. GQ wrote, Philadelphia has more going for it now than ever.. The Domino suffered a major fire eight years ago and has yet to reopen. But the Lawlers outgrew their downtown space and chose to retool andrelocate their farm-fresh ethos to the suburbs. nest and fried wontons with complete with a mysterious dunking sauce. Im not a fussy eater. The other is Silk City on Spring Garden Street. The Trolley Car Diner represents Ken Weinsteins support for Mt. A place that shows you what all the locals are about. Originally published as The Lost City in the August 2014 issue of Philadelphia magazine. At the end of the 1980s, the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. My friends dad picked us up in his car one day without any clothes on. PhillyVoice Contributor, 6 great places to break up with someone in Philly, 5 Philly hoods you wouldnt have recognized 60 years ago, a particularly damning review from Craig Laban, Jason Kelce could make a 'Saturday Night Live' cameo with his brother Travis hosting, School District of Philadelphia to relocate Building 21 students following asbestos exposure, Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal robbed at gunpoint in Maryland, Eli Lilly slashed insulin prices, starting a race to the bottom. In many ways, his designers improved upon the original interior that is as rare as a perfect omelette. The Franklin Institute, but his biggest contribution to the city has to be the most talked-about dish in Manhattan" in the 1970s became an unrelenting culinary joke of the 1980s, . I grown up in Oak Lane is the 40s. Please like & follow for more interesting content. A hostess sometimes had to take names out in the lobby. The OMahony diner came to Philadelphia in the 1960s from Medford, Massachusetts where it operated as Carols Diner. I am too an avid Diner lover tho. In the first decade of the 21st century, Petrogiannis also snapped up the Tiffany, Country Club, and Broad Street diners. Oak Lanesprospects dont look good. I saw with my own eyes, he says, the massive money and time being spent to make Philadelphia a retail center. Philadelphians, he says, are fashion-savvy, creative and artistic: They get it.. Campiglia was from New Jersey . The Crime rates in the 1980s Philadelphia were very high. Many were hobbled by some kind of frailty. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. | Photo: Randy Garbin, When the Kubach family owned the Melrose Diner they managed to build up something of a one-diner empire. Philadelphia Fish & Co. 207 Chestnut. Burgers you expected to find for a buck fifty in such a place now cost five dollars, but the money bought you an expertly grilled fresh half-pound of meat served on a fresh-baked roll served with hand-cut French fries. I worked for your grandfather Pete and your Dad from the age of 12 to 17 at the Heritage. 2 14 Great Philly Restaurants We Wish Hadn't Closed; 3 1980s - The Literate Quilter; 4 Restaurant Picks - Escape the 1980's - Escape the 1980s; 5 Philadelphia restaurants in the 1980s; 6 Vetri, Le Bec-Fin, La Panetire: The illustrious culinary history of; 7 Closed Restaurants in Philadelphia Area, Pennsylvania - GAYOT The Frazer is certainly one of the oldest examples of a pristine OMahony, but I could probably list at least a half dozen others that are in similarly pristine condition. Diner-wise, this ones only for hard-core fans. This is a stock, late-1960s Fodero diner similar to Lancers Diner in Easton Road in Horsham. Im sorry you cant agree with a simple fact, but Ive been listening to this sentiment for more than thirty years. 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. Before Stephen Starr oversaw a national empire of more than 35 restaurants, Country Club Diner, another one under the Petrogiannis umbrella, still adheres to its Jewish-American menu established by the Perloff Family. Your email address will not be published. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Bobs was built by the Jerry OMahony company in Elizabeth, New Jersey at its post-war peak. 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If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Today, I can get stopped at the doors of an upscale hotel or silently ejected from a fancy boutique with an icy glare. Look here for profiles of the District's many. It could have been dee dees it was about a half mile north of the aramingo. Today, the K stands for Korean, and while youll find Asian specialties on the menu, you can also get a good, old-fashioned American breakfast. Food was good, too! Spring Garden Pizza & Restaurant, 1137 Spring Garden Street, Great breakfast at Spring Garden Pizza andthe owners are sweet as pie. The first was on the North Side of the 1600 Block of Snyder Ave. cheeky menu full of gems like sweet n pungent pork Tahiti and barbecue