Favorite eateries that closed

Mike Schwartz · December-11th-2008, 02:50 PM

Somewhere there's a thread for Jazz venues that have gone down for whatever reason and closed.

Taking a cue from the "what are you eating?" where Pete mentioned a place that was good that no longer exists.......

I'll start.
In downtown San Jose on Market Street, White Lotus is closed. They were tasty and pretty creative in how they did Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine.

A few months ago, I made my way there to find out the recent Cajun restaurant at the old White Lotus location.

Not in the mood to try the new joint, I went down the street to a Thai place I was familiar with. My daughter introdruced me to White Lotus on one of my earliest visits to SJ

Surfer · December-11th-2008, 02:59 PM

Mike, what is the best place in SJ to get Pho?

Mike Schwartz · December-11th-2008, 03:02 PM

Those that change ownership or managment should probably count......I can't think of one right now, but those are the kinds of changes that can cause a place to go from *fave* to something else.

shrugs · December-11th-2008, 03:04 PM

Great place to eat seafood, right on Lake Pontchartrain.
Many other great places were out there as well. Like Bruning's and Sid Mar's.

We call it "Ain't Dere No More".

Mike Schwartz · December-11th-2008, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surfer

Mike, what is the best place in SJ to get Pho?

I'm terrible with names, especially in non-English.

There's a place near San Jose State on 2nd St. that does it pretty well and has killer Vietnamese sandwiches.

Having moved to Evergreen section, I'm discovering many more on the 'East side.'

There's a Target right off Capitol & 101, where 6-8 misc Pho houses are within a couple of blocks......one I liked quite a bit (could track the name if you want)

clinthopson · December-11th-2008, 03:12 PM

The Berghoff
Scandia
Le Brasserie in Orange

Surfer · December-11th-2008, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Schwartz

I'm terrible with names, especially in non-English.

There's a place near San Jose State on 2nd St. that does it pretty well and has killer Vietnamese sandwiches.

Having moved to Evergreen section, I'm discovering many more on the 'East side.'

There's a Target right off Capitol & 101, where 6-8 misc Pho houses are within a couple of blocks......one I liked quite a bit (could track the name if you want)

If you find one that's exceptional, best you've had, let me know.

hornplayer · December-11th-2008, 04:22 PM

What's even worse (to me) than having them close is when they change hands and don't change anything else. You go there and it looks the same, and maybe even the menu still reads the same, but it "feels" different, and then when your food comes, it sucks.

When a place changes hands, I think they should be required to give it a new name so everyone knows it's not the same.

The B.A.R. Association, Tacos and Things -- I'm sure there are some others, I just can't think of them right now.

Pete C · December-11th-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hornplayer

What's even worse (to me) than having them close is when they change hands and don't change anything else. You go there and it looks the same, and maybe even the menu still reads the same, but it "feels" different, and then when your food comes, it sucks.

That happened to me at Thali, on Greenwich Avenue (now Lassi). I went there one day and the food was completely different. I said to the waiter, "the food is very different. Is there a new chef?" To which he replied, "Similar!" A very Indian way of handling the situation

GoodSpeak · December-11th-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

The Berghoff
Scandia
Le Brasserie in Orange

Clint,

There used to be a deli-style restaurant on Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa next to the 405 off-ramp. I loved that place.

It still there?

GoodSpeak · December-11th-2008, 06:33 PM

Tommy's Junior
Buellines'
Chili Billy's

Ian's [in Cambria, CA]

Gentle Giant · December-11th-2008, 09:26 PM

It's 2am, you have the munchies, and you need a roast beef sandwich.

Fortunately for me, I don't get the munchies at 2am anymore, otherwise I'd miss this place even more.

Monte Smith · December-11th-2008, 10:09 PM

The late and little lamented Johnson's Charcoal Beef House in Leesburg, VA.

You have to love a restaurant that doesn't advertise its unique ingredients or culinary style but rather its fuel.

tippy · December-11th-2008, 10:38 PM

Al in NYC · December-11th-2008, 10:42 PM

I loved looking at the bottom of a swimming pool while I ate...

Cem · December-11th-2008, 11:00 PM

My nana's...

clinthopson · December-12th-2008, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Clint,

There used to be a deli-style restaurant on Harbor Blvd. in Costa Mesa next to the 405 off-ramp. I loved that place.

It still there?

You mean Artie Manhattan. It closed about two years ago. Bad location for any restaurant. They had the best rye bread I've ever found out here since the Delite bakery closed on Brooklyn Ave. (now MLK Blvd.) in East L.A.

bigtiny · December-12th-2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

It's 2am, you have the munchies, and you need a roast beef sandwich.

Fortunately for me, I don't get the munchies at 2am anymore, otherwise I'd miss this place even more.

Come on, the only reason people liked Buzzy's was that it was the ONLY place to eat late at night in Boston. =:-) Greasiest, nastiest stuff I've ever eaten!

Here's a tip for you non-Bostonians (and Massachussettsians as far as I can tell) puritanism still reigns in these parts. I've never seen, nor could I have imagined a town with 200 colleges where it's almost impossible to eat after 10 oclock. Yeah, I know, the IHOP on Soldier's Field road or the Burger King over near BU. I'm talking about diners and shit.....I've lived here for 22 years and it's always befuddled me. What I wouldn't give for an authentic 24 hour diner that served good food at diner prices, with REAL hash browns (not these stupid New England 'Home Fries' and some fucking grits!)

bigtiny

bigtiny · December-12th-2008, 04:52 PM

I don't know if it's closed (I haven't been to NY in a long time) but I heard through the underground that it had gone downhill (any NYers out there are free to bring me up to date if they know anything), but one of my all time favorites was a little place called Luna Cafe in LIttle Italy.

Fresh everything made by little 70 year old Italian ladies, very affordable, and the best damned Calamari I've ever eaten!

bigtiny

GoodSpeak · December-12th-2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clinthopson

You mean Artie Manhattan. It closed about two years ago. Bad location for any restaurant. They had the best rye bread I've ever found out here since the Delite bakery closed on Brooklyn Ave. (now MLK Blvd.) in East L.A.

That's the one, Clint.

Sorry to see it go away.

hornplayer · December-13th-2008, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

I don't know if it's closed (I haven't been to NY in a long time) but I heard through the underground that it had gone downhill (any NYers out there are free to bring me up to date if they know anything), but one of my all time favorites was a little place called Luna Cafe in LIttle Italy.

Fresh everything made by little 70 year old Italian ladies, very affordable, and the best damned Calamari I've ever eaten!

bigtiny

Bigtiny.... is 70 years old? and how "little" are these Italian ladies????

MRS · December-13th-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Come on, the only reason people liked Buzzy's was that it was the ONLY place to eat late at night in Boston. =:-) Greasiest, nastiest stuff I've ever eaten!

Here's a tip for you non-Bostonians (and Massachussettsians as far as I can tell) puritanism still reigns in these parts. I've never seen, nor could I have imagined a town with 200 colleges where it's almost impossible to eat after 10 oclock. Yeah, I know, the IHOP on Soldier's Field road or the Burger King over near BU. I'm talking about diners and shit.....I've lived here for 22 years and it's always befuddled me. What I wouldn't give for an authentic 24 hour diner that served good food at diner prices, with REAL hash browns (not these stupid New England 'Home Fries' and some fucking grits!)

bigtiny

How late is Eagles open? I've had more than a few drunken burger blowouts there in the past.

shrugs · December-13th-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtiny

Here's a tip for you non-Bostonians (and Massachussettsians as far as I can tell) puritanism still reigns in these parts. I've never seen, nor could I have imagined a town with 200 colleges where it's almost impossible to eat after 10 oclock.

I always thought the blue laws said it all.
Can't even purchase beer from a grocery store on Independence Day?
Something awfully wrong with that....