#restaurant-history

#restaurant-history

Located in New Orleans historic Uptown neighborhood, Charlie's Steakhouse is pretty unassuming on the outside, and at first glance on the inside. A generic, windowless brick storefront with a glowing neon "Charlie's" sign gives way to a wood paneled, blue-collar restaurant. But that's part of what makes Charlie's great. In a category increasingly defined by luxury experiences, Charlie's has survived on a simple menu, great service, and an inclusive atmosphere since 1932.

Patty's Eggnest opened its first location on Greenwood Avenue in Seattle back in 1989 and has since become a landmark of the community. The chain is known for its all-day breakfast, featuring made-from-scratch items such as the social media-worthy Swedish pancakes, Elvis French toast (French toast topped with peanut butter and bananas), custom omelettes, scrambles, and more. The chains also serve a lunch menu filled with burgers, sandwiches, soups, and salads, though most customers venture in for that breakfast menu.

Lawrence Chu, also known as Chef Chu, garnishes a plate of sweet and sour pork at Chef Chu's in Los Altos on December 11, 2025. Chef Chu's is a family-run business, owned by Lawrence Chu, which has been operating since 1970 and is known not only for the food but also for hosting celebrities and tech innovators. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)

This white table cloth restaurant is a beat off Broadway and shines Patsy's good name in bright, neon lights at 236 W 56th Street in Manhattan. In the eternity of its history, the Scognamillo family has continued to dish out Patsy's classic dishes, carried on from son Joe, and now grandson Sal, who not only serves up delicious plates filled with pasta, seafood and meat, but also a bright smile to his customers, making them feel as if they are a part of his family.

Sally Stanford grinned as she took in the crowded dining room at her Sausalito waterfront restaurant, Valhalla. At its grand opening celebration in March 1950, a live band entertained more than 100 well-to-do diners who clinked glasses. Outside, police cleared traffic, and a line of curious customers continued to grow. Stanford, who wore a slinky black silk dress and styled her hair with an updo crowned with a white orchid, had seemingly done the impossible.

Such is the case with Shoney's, a diner chain specializing in popular American breakfast fare. The first Shoney's location opened in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1947 as a small drive-in restaurant. Just five years later, the restaurant was incorporated into the Big Boy Restaurants franchise. However, despite its early decades of success, the chain would soon face allegations of mismanagement and racism, which ultimately led to its long, slow decline.

We love a good night out at a premium steakhouse. What better way to treat yourself after a long week than by enjoying a delicious, juicy, perfectly cooked restaurant steak with all of the sides and fixings? In a mission to help our readers find the absolute best steakhouse in every state, we have carefully researched, reviewed, and rated the most popular ones, from small, local, hole-in-the-wall steakhouses to well-known favorites. And the history of the best steakhouse in Oklahoma is sure to surprise you.

Drama aside, the brand has become associated with some iconic American appetizers, with potato skins being the restaurant's strongest point of pride. As TGI Fridays claims, one of the restaurant's crafty cooks created the concoction one night in 1974 with leftover potato scraps. As the story goes, he dropped the excess scooped-out potato into the deep-fryer, seasoned it liberally, added shredded cheese and crispy bacon, and ta-da - a potato skin.

Affordable, family-friendly, and conveniently tucked into malls across the country, York became a go-to stop for anyone craving a hearty meal without the fuss. Founded in 1966 in Columbus, Ohio, York Steak House expanded quickly through the 1970s and early 1980s, riding the wave of mall culture. With its cafeteria-style ordering system, customers lined up with trays, chose sides like baked potatoes or salad, and picked their steak before heading to their table.

Picture this: You're driving down a Long Island highway on a summer day, you hit the Hamptons, but then you just ... keep going. Eventually, you hit what locals call The End: Montauk. Over the years, Montauk has transformed from a sleepy little surfing town to a full-blown haven for influencers and Wall Street bankers. But for every new bar or club (we see you, Bounce and Surf Lodge), there are places that have been around for decades.

The unlimited breadsticks were originally adopted to keep customers busy while waiting for their meals due to unexpected delays in the kitchen.

"Generations of Ginza-goers will be disoriented, but the San Jose restaurant at 215 E. Jackson St. is now called Kaita," wrote the Merc. "Six months ago, Koji Sugimoto bought the closet-size Japantown landmark, ripped out its worn walls, and installed new blue carpeting and comfortable benches."

The Carnegie Deli, known for its rich history and iconic pastrami sandwiches, faced financial struggles and closed its doors in 2016 after nearly 80 years.

The Cheesecake Factory's brown bread is known for its distinct flavor derived from unexpected ingredients such as honey, molasses, and espresso powder, contributing to its immense popularity.

The original name of Panera Bread was St. Louis Bread Company, highlighting its humble beginnings and regional roots in St. Louis before its nationwide expansion.

I've been coming here for over 40 years. I like everything about the place. The food has always been great, but the employees are what keeps me coming back - there are some wonderful people here.

The thing I enjoy most about our business is interacting with our guests, making memories all the time, and that's what keeps me going.