Throughout the 80s and early 90s, I'd often go to Birra Poretti's near Greenspoint mall. By far, that was my favorite restaurant. Their spinach fettucine primavera was unreal. They still have it around in a few locations I think, but the menu has really changed, my favorite item is gone, and its just not as good.
There is also a Ryans in Conroe, not so old and dirty. Monterrey House before they changed it Big Burger V on Hardy, drove by about a month ago, looks like it's closed down.
The Pasta Company. It was walking distance from me, but got turned into a crappy Dimassi's and now that place has moved.
I remember our National Honor Society (?) dinner was there in high school. I also remember putting over 20-30 packets of sugar into my iced tea and drinking it. Why? Well I was an idiot kid, of course.
Angelo's Fisherman's Wharf...all you could eat raw oysters and boiled shrimp before your entree Zorba the Greek - killer fried shrimp down by the port of Houston Fatty...what was the name of the Italian sandwich shop on Chimney Rock just south of Bissonnet that burned down back in the day?
I used to love going to JoJo's and Sambo's. Couple of restaurants that I visited that are no longer in business are Godfather Pizza and JJ Muggs.
I used to have friends that worked at Godfather's and they would have someone call in an order and not pick it up. At the end of the night, the staff could take home the un-claimed pizzas.
I grew up in North Shore and we would eat there every now and then. Had some pretty good food there. My parents used to joke though that if we ate there too often, they would become po'folks. No love for Checkers?? There was one at Beltway 8 and Woodforest in the Northshore/Channelview area back in the day. It became a Sonic a few years after it opened up.
Who remembers Jim's? It was a Denny's style place that was in the freestanding building in the Belden's shopping center at Chimney Rock and North Braeswood? They had a sign at their entrance with a red background and white lettering that read "Please Wait. The Hostess Will Seat You". Whenever my friends and I went there, we brought a red magic marker, and colored in the "S" in "Seat".
Some more.... Butera's (deli on Montrose in Chelsea Market) Cellar Door BBQ Alfred's...I always freaked my little sister out when we went there. I would take her back to the deli, show her a can of chocolate covered ants, and told her I was going to force feed her the whole can!
Wasn't that off of Main? Near the Dome? There was an Angelo's something there a loooong time ago, I thought.
Oh man. I grew up on that stuff. I have never had a pizza as good since. The Panjos where I grew up was right next to Buster Brown shoes. My little sister got new shoes and then we all had pizza watching the big screen TV. I just wept a little at the memories.
There are still a few Jim's in Austin. Pipe Organ Pizza Farrell's Ice Cream (Almeda Mall) Pop's (Kingwood) The Magic Time Machine (Austin and San Antonio) Tamale House #3 (Austin) The Cheese Chalet (Lampasas) Sambo's (Houston and Brownwood) TortillaBurger (Alvin)
mooses - it was located somewhere in bellaire if i remember correctly. great hamburgers. then he closed the joint, and bought a mcdonalds
