Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Surly Horns

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Golden Corral, Pancho's and Other Low-Brow Eateries of Your Youth

Featured Replies

Well, that’s kind of your fault for not being a better mentor.  I realize you were already in law school my freshman year, but for fuck’s sake, point a guy in the right direction.  

Among my many failures in life.
  • Replies 540
  • Views 31.8k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Most Popular Posts

  • threesheets
    threesheets

    Most of the  good stuff has been covered, but I'll add Grandy's.  My freshman year they had all you can eat (included chicken and CFS plus whatever sides)- I think it was $4.99.  Glorious.  Especially

  • Brisketexan
    Brisketexan

    Y'all remember the Wendy's Superbar?  Soup and chili, baked potatoes, and salad bar with all the usual stuff you'd see in a full salad bar, all for something like $4-5 back in the late 80s?  When that

  • Man was it ever. I remember one time just out of college, I was broke as a convict and somehow ended up going on date with a girl who worked for their corporate office. I didn't like her/wasn't attrac

Posted Images

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:


Among my many failures in life.


no need to start counting now 

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:


Among my many failures in life.

I think it actually closed while I was an undergrad.  It was never a thing.  Nobody went there.  Hut’s was the best deal in town in the mid-90’s.  2CFS, 2 teas, and the bill was less than $10 on 2-for -1 night.

10 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


Guess you missed the Holiday House $1.99 CFS plate special. Used to show up with $5 and get two.

HH also had a solid AYCE  breakfast buffet, was also a fan of their chili cheeseburger.

some Chinese buffet up on either N Burnet or N Lamar (can't remember the name or the exact location)

Was it In the same shipping center as Dallas night club? Red brick ?
5 minutes ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

I’ve always referred to CiCi’s as Feces pizza. Worst pizza I’ve ever had by a large margin.

Is that the place that does the cinnamon pizza? Because that shit is fucking delicious.

Ex-BIL was part owner of a few Cici's in the Virginia area along with his dad and brother, glad to hear they've gone belly up on them since.  

Feeling like an old, because I'm pretty sure I remember when Golden Corral was more like Bonanza (go through the line, get a number) than an AYCE buffet.  Here's a vote for Pizza Inn (not Pizza Hut) lunch buffet.

Edited by zlavydra

Feeling like an old, because I'm pretty sure I remember when Golden Corral was more like Bonanza (go through the line, get a number) than an AYCE buffet.  Here's a vote for Pizza Inn (not Pizza Hut) lunch buffet.

Summer of 1984, my primary fun activity was riding my bike all over Houston with my buddies. One summer day, we stopped at Pizza Inn for lunch. A crew of 14 yr old boys who had spent all day burning calories, with the metabolism to go with the age. We each ate around 30-40 slices. No exaggeration. And we only stopped because we’d been there an hour and a half and we’re bored. Then, we got back on our bikes and rode some more. 14 yr old males are amazing creatures.

Loved me some Pizza Inn.
3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


Summer of 1984, my primary fun activity was riding my bike all over Houston with my buddies. One summer day, we stopped at Pizza Inn for lunch. A crew of 14 yr old boys who had spent all day burning calories, with the metabolism to go with the age. We each ate around 30-40 slices. No exaggeration. And we only stopped because we’d been there an hour and a half and we’re bored. Then, we got back on our bikes and rode some more. 14 yr old males are amazing creatures.

Loved me some Pizza Inn.

I’d say Pizza Inn is significantly better than Cicis, and I like Cicis. Excellent call. 

I ate at Denny's before getting arrested one night. 

Lulz, we all went to the Dennys on Oltorf after 6th street and my drunk ass friend did the Vince Vaughn Swingers thing of standing on the table and announcing that we were so money. Of course we got kicked out.
2 hours ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

I’ve always referred to CiCi’s as Feces pizza. Worst pizza I’ve ever had by a large margin.

This man is correct.

So was it just youth or did something about restaurants back then just hit harder? Sometimes I think about eating at a dine-in Pizza Hut with red plastic cups, wood/brass decorations, dim lighting, and crummy arcade games... and damn if I don't want to go hunt one down for the nostalgia.

4 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

14 yr old males are amazing creatures.

 

download (1).jpeg

spacer.png

This beautiful spot is probably now a damn regional bank or mediocre Mexican food restaurant in a town of 8,000 people.

EbBAH_CXsAE8eu_.jpg
This beautiful spot is probably now a damn regional bank or mediocre Mexican food restaurant in a town of 8,000 people.

I could just smell the buttery crust and sauce looking at that photo

Was it In the same shipping center as Dallas night club? Red brick ?

I think the buffet everyone is thinking about is Buffet Palace. It was on Anderson in the parking lot with Hobby Lobby Planet Fitness. It burned down at least 10 years ago. It’s the same one that’s down by the south Central Market.

I think there was another Chinese buffet where Taco Deli is on Burnet.
3 hours ago, Stunns38 said:


Lulz, we all went to the Dennys on Oltorf after 6th street and my drunk ass friend did the Vince Vaughn Swingers thing of standing on the table and announcing that we were so money. Of course we got kicked out.

I made out with a Monster girl who's now an insta model at 4 am at the IHOP on CC over SXSW one year. We may as well have been eating together. 

Uhm, I still fuck with Pancho's. my wife asked me what I wanted to eat one year for Father's Day and you can bet your sweet tites I said "you better raise that flag"


I think the buffet everyone is thinking about is Buffet Palace. It was on Anderson in the parking lot with Hobby Lobby Planet Fitness. It burned down at least 10 years ago. It’s the same one that’s down by the south Central Market.

I think there was another Chinese buffet where Taco Deli is on Burnet.

Oh yeah, that oversized parking lot. I went there a few times. Place always seemed to have fires.

Old San Francisco Steakhouse converted into a Chinese buffet IIRC.  Former Westgate theatre is now a buffet place, isn't it?

1 minute ago, Underdog said:

Former Westgate theatre is now a buffet place, isn't it?

Could be. Buffet Palace is on the west side of Westgate - across from the newer theater, Amy's and CM. 

1 hour ago, CooterBrown said:


I think the buffet everyone is thinking about is Buffet Palace. It was on Anderson in the parking lot with Hobby Lobby Planet Fitness. It burned down at least 10 years ago. It’s the same one that’s down by the south Central Market.

I think there was another Chinese buffet where Taco Deli is on Burnet.

My go-to was Shanghai River in the Village shopping center across the parking lot from what is now the Alamo Draft House. 

6 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


Summer of 1984, my primary fun activity was riding my bike all over Houston with my buddies. One summer day, we stopped at Pizza Inn for lunch. A crew of 14 yr old boys who had spent all day burning calories, with the metabolism to go with the age. We each ate around 30-40 slices. No exaggeration. And we only stopped because we’d been there an hour and a half and we’re bored. Then, we got back on our bikes and rode some more. 14 yr old males are amazing creatures.

Loved me some Pizza Inn.

Pizza Inn was great. In the kiddie pizza game, Peter Piper was the superior choice. Their pizza was actually pretty, pretty, pretty good. 

44 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Pizza Inn was great. In the kiddie pizza game, Peter Piper was the superior choice. Their pizza was actually pretty, pretty, pretty good. 

We had Pistol Pete’s.  Looking back on it, they had the perfect combo of reasonably good pizza, arcade, and cheap pitchers of beer for the parents.  Everyone went home happy.

We had Pistol Pete’s.  Looking back on it, they had the perfect combo of reasonably good pizza, arcade, and cheap pitchers of beer for the parents.  Everyone went home happy.

Shit, we’d go there in high school if we had a coupon.
11 hours ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

I’ve always referred to CiCi’s as Feces pizza. Worst pizza I’ve ever had by a large margin.

There was a CiCi's knockoff the next town over from us.  Had to go there once.

They actually had a pizza on the buffet with sauerkraut on it.  It looked as disgusting as it sounds.

Can’t recall if it was PH or PI. one always had some version of Pole Position or Joust you could play while waiting for the pizza to come out.

We didn't eat out often as a kid but for some reason when we did, it was a buffet place 90% of the time. Our Golden Corral, you went through the line and picked what you want like at Luby's, then they had the salad bar out in the middle. Pancho's was in the regular rotation as well as Shoney's for breakfast. We also had a local chinese place that was always dark inside which kinda sketched me out. 

If we were feeling really fancy, we'd drive over the border to Lake Charles to go eat at one of the casino buffets, then stop and get lottery tickets on the way back (pre-Texas lotto days).

My go-to was Shanghai River in the Village shopping center across the parking lot from what is now the Alamo Draft House. 

Man, mentions of all the old Chinese buffets. Shanghai was great because they’d sell to-go buffet by the pound. Could load up a bunch of stuff and take it home for pretty cheap. Could easily get enough stuff to stretch for several days.

Anyone remember Lee Cook’s Wokaholic downtown?
3 hours ago, Brisketexan said:


Shit, we’d go there in high school if we had a coupon.

I had no idea it was anything more than a local chain.  Google tells me they had a pretty strong presence in 5 states.

3 hours ago, DallasHorn26 said:


I thought it was waffle shoppe?

How the hell did I get that wrong? Been way too long I guess. Yea, near the old school Kroger. The Spur and Marshall Ave. Memories. 

On 11/19/2021 at 7:55 AM, FirstTimeCaller said:


- How Steak & Ale was fine dining in 1992 Texas


 

Hits close to home

We had our rehearsal dinner at the Steak and Ale that was located at Hwy 290 and Mangum in May of 1991.  It is now an adult entertainment establishment.  Maybe I should take the rib there next year to celebrate our 31st anniversary.

And also, why no love for The Black Eyed Pea?  Our first apartment was right off Tidwell and Hollister and the BEP, Bennigans, Steak and Ale, and Luthers BBQ were our 290 goto’s until Papacita’s hit the area.  What was the steak place that turned into The Gold Cup?  It was pretty decent for that time.

Edited by davidg

9 hours ago, Underdog said:

Old San Francisco Steakhouse converted into a Chinese buffet IIRC.  Former Westgate theatre is now a buffet place, isn't it?


first ut home game. We came to see my cousin suit up (walk on), then hit old San Francisco steakhouse. Damn that was fine eating 

6 hours ago, DallasHorn26 said:


I thought it was waffle shoppe?

NGL, read this as waffle stomp at first. 

22 hours ago, T’Boo Ted Marshall said:

I’ve always referred to CiCi’s as Feces pizza. Worst pizza I’ve ever had by a large margin.

 

Early '90s and I am dating a girl whose parents had returned from overseas deployment to live in Oklahoma. She wants me to meet them so we drive to that shithole state. Second day there, we need to escape for some truck lovin' on the bench seat and we decide to go eat before heading back to their house. In the distance I spy a CiCi's---had never heard of it. We go in and get a table. While consuming shit food, a guy in a sports coat and tennis shoes walks over and asks if he can talk with us a bit. He says he noticed that I am wearing a Texas hat and wants to know what I think of his fine dining establishment. I said I thought it was fine or some such. He says they are thinking about expanding into Texas and wants to know if I believe it will be a success. I say "sure, whatever."

TLDR--You can thank me for introducing all-you-can-eat lard-ass Texans to the glory that is CiCis.

I’ll still eat the shit out of a pizza buffet but I will no longer eat CiCi’s. Mr. Gatti’s is the destination for pizza buffets for my family if I’m going. My wife will take our 5 year old there without me if I’m out of town but I will no longer eat that nasty shit.

15 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Pizza Inn was great. In the kiddie pizza game, Peter Piper was the superior choice. Their pizza was actually pretty, pretty, pretty good. 

There is a Pizza Inn on Mangum that is still going strong.   I've never had Peter Piper.  


Man, mentions of all the old Chinese buffets. Shanghai was great because they’d sell to-go buffet by the pound. Could load up a bunch of stuff and take it home for pretty cheap. Could easily get enough stuff to stretch for several days.

Anyone remember Lee Cook’s Wokaholic downtown?

At least pre pandemic, Star of India sold by the pound. Pretty cheap too. I think they expected you to load up on rice but I always made that at home.
7 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:


first ut home game. We came to see my cousin suit up (walk on), then hit old San Francisco steakhouse. Damn that was fine eating 

Wife and I were there for dinner one night and prom season was in session, we watched some poor kid trying to slice some cheese off the cheese block they gave you for his date, tipped our waitress to go over to their table to help him out like it was part of her duties.  

Steak and ale was ABSOLUTELY one of our “kinda nice dinner out” places growing up. Shit, our group of friends/family all ended up there after high school graduation ceremony - it was nice enough for a “celebration” dinner, but wouldn’t break the bank.

As for Old San Francisco, when I moved to Austin for school, it was the only “steakhouse” I knew of, because I’d seen it from the interstate. One week, my dad had to come to Austin for some business with the RRC, and he told me he’d take me out for a nice dinner one night. At the time, I was eating at the Jester cafeteria for most meals, so I wanted to do it up RIGHT…and that’s where I asked him to take me.

And last, Mr Gattis….first time I had it was actually in Oklahoma. Tagged along with dad on a work trip in my early teens. We visited one of his high school buddies….who had a daughter….who had bloomed in all the right places, so young Brisket was quite lovestruck. We spent a day at the pool, and ordered Gattis for dinner, and I thought that this must be what heaven is like.

I lived a coupla blocks from the MLK location, and ate there more times than I can count. During finals, I’d go for lunch, eat, then study and drink iced tea, then a few hours later, load my plate for dinner (still had my receipt from lunch, so got a two-fer). They’re now apparently re-opening a location on Far West, so we’ll have it back in the hood again.

1 hour ago, RollLeft said:

There is a Pizza Inn on Mangum that is still going strong.   I've never had Peter Piper.  

 
pizza inn in channelview (off i10) is very new and delicious 

 
pizza inn in channelview (off i10) is very new and delicious 

There was one left in Clute until a coupla years ago.
2 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:


There was one left in Clute until a coupla years ago.


this is the brand new / re-brand. If cicis can stay open, a rebranded pizza inn should be do great 


this is the brand new / re-brand. If cicis can stay open, a rebranded pizza inn should be do great 

Yeah, I just googled, and they’ve got a fair number of locations in Texas, but a LOT are in small towns (Hamilton, Jarrell, etc). And they have ZERO advertising presence. It’s an odd business. But I do remember preferring their pizza to Pizza Hut’s.

That said….when Godfathers showed up, holy shit. My family thought that gourmet food had finally arrived in SW Houston.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.