TELL/ASK Another Forum Member - Anything!

[ItsOver]

@Walks_At_Night Didn't Bonanza eventually become Ponderosa or were they the same restaurant chain just named differently by region?  I used to like Ponderosa's Super Buffett.  The last time I went to one was in the early 90's.  Last time I saw one, it was abandoned and later was turned into a church.  lol

They still have a website, with apparently three restaurants left. Two are in Ohio. Maybe you can take a drive and check one out for us, Shay.

https://pon-bon.com/

[Walks_At_Night]

Hhhmmm. What else?  I have a vague memory of Jeff and Chef at the Burger Chef.

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[ItsOver]

Hhhmmm. What else?  I have a vague memory of Jeff and Chef at the Burger Chef.

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Oh, yeah. I liked Burger Chef.

[ItsOver]

What about this place?

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Ribs and this humongous loaf of artery hardening deliciousness.

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[ShayP]

They still have a website, with apparently three restaurants left. Two are in Ohio. Maybe you can take a drive and check one out for us, Shay.

https://pon-bon.com/

I'm nostalgic, @ItsOver but not so much where I'd make the trip. 

[ItsOver]

I'm nostalgic, @ItsOver but not so much where I'd make the trip. 

I see there’s one not far from Dayton. I believe Uncle Duke is still there. Maybe he can make a visit and report back. I believe he used to be involved with USAF accident investigations so he has relevant experience.

[ShayP]

Anyone from PA, WV, or Ohio of a certain age should remember Winky's.  I've never been to a Burger Chef but I think they are similar.

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[Walks_At_Night]

Anyone from PA, WV, or Ohio of a certain age should remember Winky's.  I've never been to a Burger Chef but I think they are similar.

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I'm hating it that I never ate at a Winky's.  Sounds awesome.

[ShayP]

What about this place?

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I forgot about that place.  There was one not far from me when I was in Virginia.  I don't think it stayed open for more than 2 years.

[ShayP]

I'm hating it that I never ate at a Winky's.  Sounds awesome.

LOL!  Yes..."awesome."   

[Walks_At_Night]

I forgot about that place.  There was one not far from me when I was in Virginia.  I don't think it stayed open for more than 2 years.

Same here - just a stones throw from the arena where the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State plays. Great location but poof.

[ItsOver]

Same here - just a stones throw from the arena where the Carolina Hurricanes and NC State plays. Great location but poof.

Here’s an old article but interesting.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/12/12/restaurants-skrinking-business-bennigans/1764595/

It talks about Damon’s and others. It started in Columbus and was originally very popular. I remember going there back in the 80’s.  Like a lot of expansions, it ended-up a mismanaged mess. I remember back in the 90’s, way before the original founders sold-out, Outback Steakhouse had waiting lines out the door and pretty decent food. Way back when the bartenders would be covered in a variety of Outback pins. Freaking corporate suits ruin everything. 

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[ItsOver]

Here’s another one that was fantastic, with great chili, chili cheeseburgers, and hand-cut fries. I used to frequent the original one in Dallas.

Chili’s

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Now, it just another bland corporate clone, with homogenized crap. The original Chili’s is no mas. I haven’t been in one in decades.

[PB]

Holy shit, this place is still open in my hometown.  This was one of many places to stop Fri and Sat night as we drove up and down the main ave the way they did in American Graphiti. 

That sign still looks exactly the same, it's probably the original one.

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[PB]

Here's the other one, still there too.  I once drove home from college just to have a Miner's burger.  Back them 38 miles was a loong way to drive.  This still looks exactly the same too.  What a gold mine it must be for the owners.

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