Restaurnats & Pubs you used to love to frequent that are no longer

I miss the Magic Pan. Lettuce Entertain You has brought it back in the form of a crepe stand (at the Mall of American and at Northbrook Court in north suburban Chicago) but it's not the same. I keep hoping they decide to bring back the whole concept!

Wow there's a blast from the past! I used to work in Oak Brook at Lady Madonna (upscale maternity) and there was a Magic Pan right next door- we would eat there at least once a week- I always had the creamy chicken mushrooms crepes- I forgot all about that place- Also Henrici's coffee shop.
 
I was just reading the Olga's website, and there is a place to write in your favorite memory of Olga's, and someone on there did say there used to be one in the King of Prussia mall.

The mall I was talking about was the Oxford Valley Mall in Langhorne, Pa.
 
I just remembered another one, Neil's Steak and Oyster House in Wildwood, NJ.
 

Ground Round is gone? I thought I saw one around here not long ago, maybe not. I like how Ground Round used to be, peanut shells on the floor type place. They had the best french fries there!
Not all Ground Rounds are gone! We had one years ago here near one of the malls. When the mall started becoming more popular they closed down. That one was the one with peanuts on the floor, clowns, face painting, and kids popping balloons like crazy. Then maybe 5 years ago one opened up not far from my house. It is SO not like what I remember. It is now a regular restaurant with a sorta boring menu. I like their fried cheesecake but other than that, they don't interest me. So, I miss the original Ground Round.

I know they aren't gone and I know they do great business, but I miss them. I used to drive back and forth from NY to Florida twice a year for about 10 years. We always made sure to hit a Cracker Barrel along the way. I haven't made that trip in years but I miss Cracker Barrel!! And there aren't any even remotely close to here! Cracker Barrel I am pleading with you, can you please open at least one restaurant on Long Island? I will travel the whole span just to eat there. Please!
 
I love Cracker Barrels too! I live in Maryland, near DC and the closest one to us is about 50-60 minutes away, in Frederick, MD. Every time we go on a trip, we have to hit a Cracker Barrel too! In fact, sometimes I suggest we take a little day trip somewhere jsut because I'm in the mood for Cracker Barrel!

I've been begging them to open a restaurant near us too! But someone told me that they don't open their restaurants real close to big cities. I don't know why, or if it's true, but it is true that the closest Cracker Barrels to Washington DC are all about an 45 min to hour away!
 
Farrells!!!! I loved that they put the hot fudge in a little container on the side for their sundaes. The ice cream stayed cold, the hot fudge stayed hot and it was fantastic. I used to get a Hot Fudge Nutty Nutty and even the nuts were served in a seprate cup so you could ad them to every bite.
 
Downey's is still on South St. I was there last in 2005 though.



I miss the Rainforest cafe in Franklin Mills where I went to my 1st DIS Meet!
 
I miss Ground Round too!

And I looved Yoken's! Remember when you used to get keys at the end of the meal and got to see if they opened the treaure chest in the gift shop? It was a cheap way to get people into the gift shop, but I loved it.
 
Lots of good memories here!

Olga's used to be in Lake Forest Mall, before they added a food court-I always would stop in for the closest thing to a gyro I could find in Maryland, lol.

When I was a kid, either Farrells or Jahn's was THE PLACE to have a birthday party. Had one of each several towns over. From what I gather, there are still Farrells on the west coast, and the plan is that we'll take the kids the next time we get out there. One time, I was at a party and the next table was also having a party-well, the siren goes off, the two servers come up to the table and then pass it-Ice cream went all over the front window. When you're 8, that's really funny, but I'm sure it wasn't to the servers.

A couple of places I love from LI/NYC are gone-Raay Noors, Dalts, El Torito, and O'Neil's Balloon. Here in Florida, we lost our favorite BBQ joint, PotBellies, but we found another one that is better a few months ago.

My mom and sister used to rave about Hops-and it took us until we moved here to finally try it (despite many visits to Florida). We loved it and six months later, all the locations in my area closed-there are only two left!

We also loved Tia's Tex Mex-brought my assistant to lunch there one day, and the next day, they closed all the locations. What's really a bummer is that many of the servers at the location came from the American Cafe that had been in the neighboring mall-but it closed. Not impressed with that one, but I felt bad that in the space of 14 months, they were looking for a new job again.

Psst, if you're in Bowie, there's a Cracker Barrel up by exit 80 along I95. Still not close, but a bit closer than trekking to Frederick or Potomac Mills. ;) I know the location because they'd put billboards along 95 and for two hours, I was thinking I'd stop there. Got there and it wasn't open yet! I was NOT happy-had been thinking of what I'd have for lunch, and there just wasn't anything as good nearby, lol!

Suzanne
 
First two to come to mind is Ferrell's, and G.D. Graffiti. My kids would love both of those places. Ferrell's was an ice cream joint, with penny candy and jawbreakers and licorice at the cash register. G.D. Graffitti the waiters wore roller skates. Would love either of those places to reopen.
 
I knew there was an Olga's in KOP! I haven't been in that mall in years!

Regarding Cracker Barrel, there are two here within about 10 miles of each other (maybe less than 10 mi.) and both do a booming business!
 












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