This unassuming, unfussy restaurant is open 24 hours and has satisfied hungry visitors since the early 1920s. Located in downtown Grand Rapids, the Butter Wagon was a neighbor to the Majestic Theatre, which was in the building that now houses the Civic Theatre. From Bill Knapp's to Burger Chef, we looked back at some now-defunct eateries Michiganders once loved. Ohio + Tahiti = Kahiki Find of the day: the Redwood Room Behind the kitchen door Before Horn & Hardart: European automats Distinguished dining awards Restaurant as fun house: Shambargers Dressing for dinner Dining on the border: Tijuana Postscript: beefsteak dinners Three hours for lunch Light-fingered diners Mind your manners: restaurant etiquette Celebrity restaurateurs: Pat Boone Diary of an unhappy restaurateur Basic fare: bread Busboys Greek-American restaurants Roadside attractions: Totos Zeppelin 2012, a recap Christmas dinner in a restaurant, again? These 7 Old Restaurants In Detroit Have Stood The Test Of Time, People Drive From All Over Michigan To Try The Yardbird At Slows Bar BQ In Detroit, 8 Mom & Pop Restaurants In Detroit That Serve Home Cooked Meals To Die For, One Of The Best Restaurants Near Detroit Can Be Found Inside This Historic Bank, If You Havent Eaten These 9 Foods, You Havent Lived In Detroit Long Enough, 11 Tried And True Detroit Restaurants That Never Grow Old, The Mom & Pop Restaurant Near Detroit That Serves The Most Mouthwatering Home Cooked Meals, 9 Legendary Family-Owned Restaurants In Detroit You Have To Try. Anyone remember the name? Mr. Steak had plenty of locations, both in Michigan and elsewhere. The short-lived Windjammer Seafood Restaurant in the late 1960s at 18200 Woodward Avenue, near Palmer Park. Taste of a decade: 1930s restaurants Anatomy of a restaurateur: H. M. Kinsley Sweet and sour Polynesian Bar-B-Q, barbecue, barbeque Taste of a decade: 1920s restaurants Never lose your meal ticket Beans and beaneries Basic fare: hamburgers Famous in its day: Tafts Eating healthy Mary Elizabeths, a New York institution Fast food: one-arm joints The family restaurant trade Taste of a decade: restaurants, 1800-1810 Early chains: Vienna Model Bakery & Caf When ladies lunched: Schraffts Taste of a decade: 1960s restaurants Department store restaurants: Wanamakers Women as culinary professionals Basic fare: fried chicken Chain restaurants: beans and bible verses Eating kosher Restaurateurs: Alice Foote MacDougall Drinking rum, eating Cantonese Lunching in the Bird Cage Cabarets and lobster palaces Fried chicken blues Rats and other unwanted guests Dining with Duncan Basic fare: toast Department store restaurants Roadside restaurants: tea shops Tipping in restaurants Rewriting restaurant history Basic fare: ham sandwiches Americas first restaurant Joels bohemian refreshery. If you love Greek cuisine, youve undoubtedly spent time in Detroits Greektown neighborhood. Mrs. Born was the life of the place. Today, it operates as an eatery, bar, live music space, and feather bowling venue -- the latter being a Belgian game that is akin to curling without the ice. Talk about a blast! Are there any other classic Detroit eateries that never fail to satisfy your cravings? Located along Park Avenue in Detroit, this marvelous jazz club and restaurant first opened its doors in 1935. While theres undoubtedly something wonderful about exploring Detroits up-and-coming eateries, nothing beats the experience of sitting down to dine at an old favorite. Also, when my Mom and Granny would take a street car to Hudsons downtown, there were special treats we looked forward to wonderful corned beef on rye sandwiches from Lefkovskis at Broadway Market with their aromatic dill pickles and a big glass of Loganberry juice from the fresh stand right near by! The century-old building was demolished in 1995. Trying to find the name of a luncheonette /ice cream parlor near my grandmothers house at the corner of grand river and joy road in the 1960s. (Thanks to Jeff & Jim Swoboda for this shot of unknown origin.). The Westerner Beef Buffet, Dearborn, Michigan. So I was always disappointed when I thought yay! The 4 o'clock shift at the Ford Motor Company assembly plant in Detroit. Located on 28th Street, the establishment was known for live jazz music. Top it all off with a mouthwatering order of truffle fries and some Michigan-brewed beer. 408 Temple Street, Detroit, MI 48201 Lee Plaza Known for its art deco architecture, Lee Plaza came online in 1929 as a luxury hotel. I remember it was kind of darly lit and had christmas colored lights on the walls. We've been around since 1948. I bowled there a few times with Ted Colo I high school. Lol. It wasnt upstairs but a person would set the pins. . just a few blocks west of Greenfield. Start off with a meal at the Rattlesnake Club, which sits just a stones throw from the lovely shores of the Detroit River. I think it was an Italian restaurant. If you remember the place when it first opened, there was no Korean food to sample. In a fit of food nostalgia, we recently shared memories of restaurants we miss from Michigan's past. Located on Plainfield, the large establishment could seat 600 people. -- Dressing may be tossed with fresh greens for a salad or used as a dip with fresh vegetables. Either way, these dining destinations forever hold a place in our hearts and stomachs. Are you a fan of both history and food? Food my mother made all the time at home lol. [WSU Virtual Motor City], Pontchartrain Wine Cellars. Known as the home of the Polish Yacht Club, this unassuming restaurant might not catch your eye from the outside. Anyone who consumed the entire thing got a pin announcing their accomplishment. Campus Martius Park looks completey different now. It was not the first time the restaurant closed in response to a dispute. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vintage 1960s The Roostertail Restaurant Dinner Menu Detroit Michigan at the best online prices at eBay! Darbys at 10020 W. 7 Mile Road near Wyoming Street was in business from the mid-1950s to mid 60s. Bumbling through the cafeteria line Celebrity restaurants: Evelyn Nesbits tea room The artist dines out Reubens: celebrities and sandwiches Good eaters: students From tap room to tea room Whats in a name? . In 1958 New Jersey linen supply corporations charged with violation of anti-trust laws were said to control 85% of business in that state. Revolving restaurants II: the Merry-Go-Round Basic fare: shrimp We never close Tablecloths checkered past Famous in its day: Tip Top Inn Find of the day: J.B.G.s French restaurant Dont play with the candles Interview: whos cooking? WithClassics Week's Power Hour in full-effect, we took a look back in time (way back in fact) to see how Detroit's restaurant landscape has changed. The Rattlesnake Club, 300 River Pl Dr, Detroit, MI 48207, USA. Cadieux Cafe, 4300 Cadieux Rd, Detroit, MI 48224, USA. Pie in the skies revolving restaurants Way out coffeehouses Taste of a decade: 1890s restaurants Sweet treats and teddy bears Its not all glamor, is it Mr. Krinkle? (Before McDonalds) Road trip restaurant-ing Menu vs. bill of fare Odd restaurant buildings: Big Tree Inn The three-martini lunch Restaurant-ing in Metropolis Image gallery: dinner on board The case of the mysterious chili parlor Taste of a decade: 1970s restaurants Picky eaters: Helen and Warren Hot chocolate at Barrs Name trouble: Sambos Eat and get gas The fifteen minutes of Rabelais Image gallery: shacks, huts, and shanties What would a nickel buy? Duly's Place Coney Island, 5458 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209, USA. Located on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, the red building housed cafeteria-style dining for the whole family. While, If metro Detroit had a brunch capital, it would be Ferndale. The decor was early American Indian am authentic. "We need 40 more . Tom's Garden was a Chinese restaurant also on Plymouth Rd. Plum Street was a neighborhood known as "Detroit's Art Community," roughly bounded by what is today Michigan Avenue, the Lodge Freeway, and the Fisher Freeway.It was a site of Detroit's countercultural scene in the 1960s. Whether youre indulging in a sausage sandwich, trying a plate of jagerschnitzel, or simply ordering a refreshing European beer, youll fall in love with this restaurant in no time. This iconic Motor City establishment is known for amazing live jazz performances, free-flowing drinks, and a menu that includes everything from crab cakes to braised short ribs. For more than a century, Jacobys has remained a fixture in Detroits Bricktown neighborhood. All rights reserved (About Us). If youre searching for even more historic charm, be sure to read about this train depot restaurant near Detroit. Sip on wine and enjoy a fine meal before exploring the opulent, impeccably decorated grounds. [WSU Virtual Motor City], The exterior of Ferguson's restaurant circa the 1940s. When youre ready to unwind, few spots deliver culinary comfort like Jacobys. Not surprisingly, the restaurant was known for steak and used the slogan, "America's steak expert.". 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Why the change? This photograph was taken on October 29, 1928. While mimosa towers and carefully curated benedicts and pancakes are amazing, Sometimes it feels that time has stood still the last three years, but that couldnt be further from the truth as new, Sometimes all you want is the refreshing taste of a sophisticated and thoughtfully made fizzy and fruity concoction, without assaulting your liver.. The building was demolished after the closure of the restaurant and an auction, during which customers purchased beer steins, mechanical elves and other goodies. The interesting building that housed Kales Waterfall Supper Club was built in 1962 on Stadium in Ann Arbor. It won Holiday magazine awards repeatedly. Oops. Perhaps you had Sunday Brunch at this restaurant that was located on East Grand Traverse Bay in Acme. Its attractions were many, including evening entertainment, a fine wine list, and fantastic concoctions from the bar. Order a bowl of Belgian onion soup or a plate of Belgian rabbit before settling in to appreciate the eaterys eclectic charm. Especially when it comes to some of our favorite restaurants. Inspired by the burgeoning Tiki culture fad of the 1950s and 1960s, the first floor restaurant was ornately decorated "with towering tiki statues, waterfalls and a bamboo bridge." [2] It also featured a large black light aquarium mural. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Eventually, the success of the original location led to the opening of Mitch's II. I thought Topinkas would be on there too! Since 1946, Buddys has stood as a symbol of the best pizza in the Motor City. Detroit school teacher Robert Cobb envisioned the area as an arts community--along the lines of San Francisco's Haight Ashbury--and began acquiring and developing properties . Though the first FEBO restaurant was founded in Amsterdam by Johan Izak De Borst in 1941, the first FEBO Automat didn't open until the 1960s. Between courses: mystery food Ode to franchises of yesteryear Chuck wagon-ing Taste of a decade: 1940s restaurants Just cause it looks bad doesnt mean its good The other Delmonicos Between courses: Beard at Lucky Pierres Basic fare: spaghetti Famous in its day: The Maramor Between courses: wheres my butter? The building was constructed in 1894 and still features historical touches that add to its upscale yet utterly charming atmosphere. Im looking for the name of a restaurant on Woodward and Normandy. Les Gruber sold it in 1982, chef Schmidt left, and the new owner passed away. Restaurant owners, on the other hand, experience higher operating costs. Jims Garage Saloon at 300 W. Larned Street from the 1970s to mid-80s. Atmosphere Taste of a decade: 1840s restaurants Eating Chinese Park and eat Thanksgiving quiz: dinner times four Dining sky-side Habenstein of Hartford Back of the house: writing this blog Image gallery: supper clubs Restaurant cups Truth in Menu Every luxury the markets afford See it, want it: window food displays Time to sell the doughnuts Who was the mystery diner? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. James Beard named it as one of the ten best restaurants nationwide in 1961, the same year it won a Darnell Survey award as one of America's Favorites. They served the best crispy buttery hash browns and I loved their Chicken a la King! The four-course dinner menu is filled with classic American standards. If You Havent Eaten These 9 Foods, You Havent Lived In Detroit Long Enough, One Of The Best Restaurants Near Detroit Can Be Found Inside This Historic Bank, These 8 Amazing Detroit Restaurants Are Loaded With Local History, These 7 Old Restaurants In Detroit Have Stood The Test Of Time, The Mom & Pop Restaurant Near Detroit That Serves The Most Mouthwatering Home Cooked Meals, If You Grew Up In Detroit, You Definitely Love These 10 Classic Dishes, 9 Legendary Family-Owned Restaurants In Detroit You Have To Try, The Oldest Restaurant In Detroit Has A Truly Incredible History. Here are eight history-rich restaurants that deserve a spot on your dining bucket list. 3. According to a book called Service Imperative, it was around World War I that the modern linen supply industry developed, with over 900 firms in the US. Customers were heartbroken in March 2009, when they found out this fine dining establishment was not opening for the season. While every single original location of the restaurant closed down years ago, an investment group opened multiple locations of Farrell'sin California. This photo was taken between 1910 and 1920. They showcase the modernist sensibilities and sometimes outlandish styles that were used to thematically decorate mid-century eating establishments. Bates Hamburgers, 33406 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154, USA. of A.," in front of Pearlman'sBakeryin Detroit, Michigan, in the 1940s. Detroit, Michigan. Saying goodbye can be tough. Then, we asked readers to tell us about the restaurants they miss from yesteryear, and boy did our readers respond. Harrison/Flickr Downtown, with its charming shops and restaurants for the townspeople. Lines would go out to the street but we managed to move up. Book with OpenTable Open in Google Maps Foursquare 4421. Cadieux Cafe is open late, so theres rarely a bad time to stop in for a visit. Inside, you could indulge in enchiladas, nachos, fajitas or even the lunch buffet. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Reading the tea leaves Is ethnic food a slur? From stunning stained glass to incredible woodwork, the Whitney is full of unique elements and its menu of fine steak, seafood, wine, and more will have you returning for seconds. There was an apartment upstairs. Cregar's was a popular place for breakfast for Rosedale Park residents and at one time during the 70's was the site for an undercover FBI sting aimed at some . Whether youre visiting for Oktoberfest or stopping in on an ordinary weekday to enjoy a plate of schnitzel, youll adore this spot. Toddle House Truckstops Champagne and roses Soup and spirits at the bar Back to nature: The Eutropheon The Swinger Early chains: Baltimore Dairy Lunch We burn steaks Girls night out 2013, a recap Holiday greetings from Vesuvio Caf The Shircliffe menu collection Books, etc., for restaurant history enthusiasts Roast beef frenzy B.McD. The Whitney. What was the family name who owned Darbys? The prime spot once occupied by the Lamplighter, at the corner of Liberty and 4th, is now retail space. There aren't many restaurants with this kind of character. Settle in for a drink at the bar or take a seat among warm, friendly surroundings before checking out a menu of Polish classics. From Italian staples, hole-in-the-wall diners, and trendy eateries, here are some of metro Detroit's restaurants that left too soon (and for some, not soon enough.) Its gone now, but I remember it was a pie shaped piece of land and they made the building the same shape. While it may have been true that linen supply did not reflect all services, the difference between textile rental and linen supply is a bit subtle. Dine in the garden, or make a reservation for weekend high tea. In the 1970s, when the New Jersey diner was named the Silver Dollar, the eaterybecame known for its appearance in a Bounty paper towel ad. It's also one of the Blackest, Depending on who you ask, they might say love and romance are not words used to properly describe Detroits dating scene. This incredibly welcoming spot opened its doors in 1933, and generations of Detroiters have been charmed by its cuisine, piano sing-alongs, and tasty beer ever since. Golden Fleece Restaurant has been owned and operated by the same family since 1970 and its dedication to quality and taste has remained intact. Loved The Little Cafe- went there with family in the late 60s early 70s with family. The building holds a sense of history, having served everything from a speakeasy to a meeting place for various local groups throughout the generations. The Whitney takes "stepping into history" to an entirely new level, and youll be charmed as soon as you arrive. Share your suggestions with us in the comment section below. Love Detroit? (Yes, hanger is a combination of hunger and anger.) This former Saginaw eatery was known as an upscale dining option for local residents. African-American tea rooms Romantic dinners Flaming swords Theme restaurants: castles Know thy customer Menue [sic] mistakes Waiter, telephone please! Conference-ing Top posts in 2010 Variations on the word restaurant Famous in its day: Buschs Grove Between courses: a Thanksgiving toast Basic fare: French fries Linens and things part II Linens and things part I Menu art Dining in shadows Spotlight on NYC restaurants Laddition: on tipping Taste of a decade: 1870s restaurants He-man menus That glass of water Famous in its day: Tony Fausts Theme restaurants: prisons Laddition: French on the menu, drat it Anatomy of a restaurateur: Romany Marie Between courses: only one?