Who Happend

[mjarrels]

Use to be that every mid size town on east coast had a Bonza, Ponderso or Sizzer steak house with steaks at all price levels. I went to sea with the Navy in 1980 and when I retured three years later they were all gone. The buildings are still here, but other eating establishments. I miss them, chopped steak for $1.99 with potato and salad or NY steak with all fixing for $4.99.

mark

 

[Rustyiron]

....and remember the little plastic number you got to ID your table? They'd cook your meal while you ate your "salad bar" masterpiece, then bring your meal. Pretty good cheap meal. I think they've been replaced by the Texas Roadhouse and other big "chain" eateries.

 

[s219]

I sure remember Bonanza and Ponderosa. That was some good food.

 

[mjarrels]

I was a hourly worker when I first went to them, no overtime cheap steaks, lots of overtime the best steak. Yes, I rember the plastic tags.

 

[Firemanbuck82]

Sizzler is one we had out west. I think the steaks were horsemeat they were so tough. I'll buy marked down steaks at the store which are about to reach their sell by date. Still good, half price, and I can cook them to my liking.

 

[Thomas]

A&W's man ole man sure miss them.
Think lot places just got greedy and local people said no more.

 

[Ken45101]

We still have Ponderosa around here. Chopped steak dinner is $8.99 or so. All you can eat salad bar is an additional $4.

The local one has "senior nights" Monday and Wednesday, the buffet and coffee or iced tea for $7 or 8.

 

[EverythingAttachments]

I'm officially hungry! :laughing:

There's still a Western Steer here in Newton, NC and now I'm tempted to see when they'll be opening...
Travis

 

[LD1]

All the ponderosa's around here closed maybe 15-20 years ago. Shortly after Ryans moved into all the mid sized towns.

Now the ryans are all closed up and the golden corrals are popping up.

 

[/pine]

'RanchHouse' is another long gone one...maybe still some 'Sizzlers' and 'LongHorns' around...

 

[jwstewar]

All the ponderosa's around here closed maybe 15-20 years ago. Shortly after Ryans moved into all the mid sized towns.

Now the ryans are all closed up and the golden corrals are popping up.

There is still a Ponderosa on S. High St. It was owned by Neutron Man before he passed a few years back.

For those that don't know, Neutron Man was a fan of Ohio State Football that became some what local famous because of his outrageous attire for the OSU games. He typically made the local news casts.

 

[PJSprog]

We had a Bonanza and a Ponderosa when I was growing up in Granite City, IL. Ponderosa lasted longer, but is gone now, too. We also had a George Lindsey's Family Steakhouse ("Goober" Pyle from The Andy Griffith Show).

Another place I miss is H. Salt Fish and Chips. Ours closed sometime in the early '80s.

... and Pantera's Pizza (since we're waltzing down memory lane).

 

[bigtiller]

Remember Mr. Steak?

My uncle owned one until a McDonald's opened up 4 blocks away. I think the entire chain went bankrupt in the mid 90's.