Your favorite old school restaurant

[c-series don 10,483]

Recently my wife and I went out to dinner for our 32nd wedding anniversary. One of our favorite places to go is usually a 30-40 minute drive, however we are camping in a county park that happens to be only ten minutes from this restaurant. This place is as old fashioned as it gets! It’s got wall to wall carpeting, wood panel walls, and music playing at a low respectable volume from the 1950’s to the 80’s. The name is the Modern Snack Bar and it’s anything but modern! Everyone that works there is in a good mood and happy. It’s been in the same family since it opened 75 years ago! Some of the waitresses have worked there for over 30 years. Now two of the brothers run it with one cooking and one who will come to your table to ask you exactly how you would like your cocktail made. And let me tell you, he knows how to make cocktails. Be it an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Martini or a summer time watermelon mojito, this guy nails it. Their motto is “Great home cooking’ on the North Fork of Long Island” which it certainly is. One of my favorites is their classic pot roast that you can cut with a fork. They are also known for their soft shell crabs which @Ed Kennell would love! When I saw crabs on the sign outside I thought of Ed and decided to take a picture. Across the street is the last duck farm on Long Island. That’s another one of my favorites, their roast duck. If you still have room after a delicious dinner they have homemade pies to finish you off. 
 I thought I would start this post so others can share their favorite old school mom and pop style restaurant. My wife and I prefer this type of place over a chain restaurant any day. So post up your favorite place with a story and maybe some pictures and enjoy!! 

[Ed Kennell 42,892]

Thanks Don, I'll have to tell my nephew about this place.  

Happy Anniversary.  

[squonk 44,478]

Vic-n- Jennies Restaurant in Clyde N.Y. Grew up there from the 60's to the 70's. Vic and Jenny were long gone but the name stayed. Run by a family. Al Stirpe Sr. was the cook and he kept one ear out into the dining room. If there was a debate going on among the town folk came out of the kitchen like he was shot out of a cannon and joined the fracas! His wife Anna and her sister Connie were the waitresses complete with heavy Italian accents. Loved them all. Every Fri. night all of the stores stayed open late and the owners would be in for dinner. I sat with the local Ford dealer Jack many nights. Building has been gone awhile now. It was an empty lot for quite a while which was really sad. They have a little welcome center there now.

 

Here's Al at the controls! 

 

 

Jack on the right.

 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 03:23 PM by squonk

[Treepep 793]

http://farmerbrowns.com/wp-content/gallery/main-menu/main-menu9.jpg

 

I worked here from grade school till college.  Met Leslie Nielson there sophomore year.  Have an autograph somewhere.  Unfortunately Nebraska beef makes N.C beef taste like cardboard.  So I do not consume it here.  Hope to get back there someday.  New owners from when I was there.  Still slinging the same biz. 

[ebinmaine 74,343]

The BBT and I are not much for going out to eat. But on occasion, we do.

 

There's a place up here in Cornish Maine. Next town over from our own. 

 

Krista's Restaurant.  

 

https://www.kristasrestaurant.com/

 

 

I can not overstate to you folks that this is absolutely the BEST customer service I've ever had in my entire life.

We've only been there once. It isn't cheap. But you do get what you pay for.

 

 

[Achto 29,752]

I'm kind of a dive bar guy myself. My wife & I frequent a place that we have both been going to sense we were little children. Fact my parents used to come to this place back when they were dating, some 75yrs ago. On Friday nights we can stop in, see friends, each have a couple drinks, eat some great fish, and go home with a full belly + some leftovers. All for the under $40 including tips. Do take out some times for under $25 for the 2 of us. 

 

The Golden Nugget - Open from 4:00pm - 9:00pm Friday's only.

 

A local instagramer recently stopped buy the Nugget.

 

 

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:44 PM by Achto

[Beap52 1,591]

While visiting Niagara Falls a few weeks ago, some of the locals told us about Ray's Tavern outside Youngstown, NY .  I think we ended up eating there three times during our five night's stay.   The food was good, patrons were friendly, large servings and one fellow, I assume it was Ray or at least the manager, made rounds to be sure everyone was satisfied with their meal.  (I'm sure he introduced himself but I don't remember his name.)  We were given advice by locals of other places that we tried and they were great local restaurants as well.  We were fortunate the rental we stayed in was only five miles away.

 

Locally, here in Bolivar, MO I  enjoy eating at Roosters BBQ.  Family run, and where the local workers often times have lunch -for one reason a fellow can get in and out pretty quick or spend an hour if some of the buddies show up.  They are only open for lunch five days a week.  A sandwich such as pulled pork, chips and a drink is nine dollars.  I usually get half baked potato with either  pulled pork, pulled chicken or ham plus toppings and a drink for seven bucks.  A whole baked potato is only nine dollars.

[953 nut 61,858]

Our local go-to eatery is the Gazebo Creekside Restaurant. Hardly a week goes by without us eating there. The Muffuletta is my standard order unless it is Wednesday when the have Lobster Bisque, soooooo Gooooood.        Save some room for dessert, they have a great selection.

 

 

[Zeek 2,298]

We are pretty faithful to the Florida Cracker Kitchen in Brooksville, FL. With the exception of snowbird season, the crowd is very local. Heck, we even get cowboys and ranchers at the Webster FL location next to the cattle auction. I'm grateful places and people like this still exist. Brooksville is what we call the "Mayberry" of this area. We live 25 minutes NE of there.

FLORIDA CRACKER - The Original Floridian

 

[Ed Kennell 42,892]

10 minutes ago, Zeek said:

We are pretty faithful to the Florida Cracker Kitchen in Brooksville,

Good to hear from Zeek.   I thought you only ate pork from all those wild hog hunts.    

[Zeek 2,298]

6 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

Good to hear from Zeek.   I thought you only ate pork from all those wild hog hunts.    

 I gave that up after we fenced our property to keep those dang things OUT. Good to be back. My wife has had some issues over the past 12 months that have consumed a lot of my time . . . work in progress.

Edited Saturday at 01:03 PM by Zeek

[8ntruck 8,109]

In 1979 we took our honeymoon trip in our new CJ5 on the car ferry across Lake Michigan, north through Wisconson, across Michigan's Upper Pinisula, and south across the Mackinac Bridge back home to Lansing.  Mostly, we drove back roads.

 

I have no memory of where in Wisconson we found this restaurant, but it was the best meal on the trip - a mom & pop place called Eat.  Excellent home style meal, great pie.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,917]

22 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

It isn't cheap

I couldn’t see their prices on the menu.  I guess it’s one of those “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” kind of deals.

[EB-80/8inPA 1,917]

My favorite old restaurants all seem to have closed!  Rats!

[wallfish 18,592]

On 10/24/2025 at 9:16 AM, c-series don said:

So post up your favorite place with a story and maybe some pictures and enjoy!! 

Within the first year when it opened, we were working down in LI and just happened to find it. Maybe you might know of it Don, Majors Steakhouse. Probably the best steak dinner I've ever had as the butcher would carve off your selection of meat right then and there. Back then it wasn't as fancy as it appears now by looking at their website. We're blue collar working class guys and certainly wouldn't meet their attire restrictions now. We used to go there and sit at the bar sometimes too. Seems they fancy'd up quite a bit since then so they must still be doing very well.

https://www.majorssteakhouse.com/

[peter lena 9,422]

@c-series don   have to be OCEAN PIZZA , NEW LONDON CT  ,  been going there  over 40 years ,https://www.google.com/search?q=ocean+pizza+menu+new+london&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS866US866&oq=ocean+pizza+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDQgEEAAYkgMYgAQYigUyBggAEEUYOTIMCAEQIxgnGIAEGIoFMhAIAhAuGK8BGMcBGIAEGI4FMgcIAxAAGIAEMg0IBBAAGJIDGIAEGIoFMgcIBRAAGIAEMg0IBhAuGK8BGMcBGIAEMg0IBxAuGK8BGMcBGIAEMg0ICBAuGK8BGMcBGIAEMgcICRAAGIAE0gEIOTkzMGowajSoAgGwAgHxBbQv2e8aU4Z68QW0L9nvGlOGeg&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D  , not only  incredible food , but portion size , we always get another meal out of the , original order , their  seafood platter  , is killer  , love the hamburger and bacon pizza , onion rings , regularly go face down on consistent  taste / quality, probably going there tonight  , with  our daughter and granddaughter , their  seafood platter  , and shrimp , is  just amazing , these places are to be supported , and cherished , in todays world ,a real rarity, eat up , pete    

[Ed Kennell 42,892]

I will mention several great eateries.

Great locally owned family seafood market and restaurant in Milford, Delaware.     Medings and Son Seafood.

 

Best pork schnitzel ever. Gasthof Pfleger and Son in Graz, Austria.     And it's not on the menu, but if you ask politely, Herr Pfleger may offer his home made ice cream and raspberry syrup desert.

 

Deep fried fresh from the lake perch.  Au Lac on Lake Geneva Lausanne, Switzerland.   

 

Bib eye steak.    Bud and Bettys Bar and Grill  in Terry, Montana.     I remember Bettys reply when a newbie asked for a pork chop.    Betty said you can have a rib eye, T-bone, or porterhouse.  I don't allow pigs and chickens in my kitchen.       Bud was a 6' 6 tall Swede teddy bear that poured a free shot of Hot Damn Schnapps  every time our 9 man crew of hunters walked in.     Betty was a 5'2 little fireball that kept the ship afloat.

That bar was full of Beam bottles and the back room was the meeting room for the Eastern Montana Cattlemens Assoc.  Lining the top of the walls were pine wood plaques with every members brand burned in the wood...probably 50 -60.   The lower walls were decorated with Russel paintings and Remington Bronze Statues.     I ate here every day for a week while mule deer hunting from 1995 - 2005.   Sadly Bud has passed and the Bar is closed.

 

Bud pouring our Hot Damn

 

The Pa Boys

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Ed Kennell

[Treepep 793]

17 hours ago, wallfish said:

Within the first year when it opened, we were working down in LI and just happened to find it. Maybe you might know of it Don, Majors Steakhouse. Probably the best steak dinner I've ever had as the butcher would carve off your selection of meat right then and there. Back then it wasn't as fancy as it appears now by looking at their website. We're blue collar working class guys and certainly wouldn't meet their attire restrictions now. We used to go there and sit at the bar sometimes too. Seems they fancy'd up quite a bit since then so they must still be doing very well.

https://www.majorssteakhouse.com/

 

Reminds me of the movie pulp fiction. 5 bucks for a shake?    $18.50 for a burger??? better be pretty darn good Chuck house maybe? 

 

 Going out almost never happens.  When it does it is...usually a disappointment. I have found tasty food trucks and 1 brick and mortar lovingly call a dirty spoon.  Both are scary and good.

 

Pro tip... I your inspection rating that you should proudly display is below 100%  walk away.  Perfect score is attainable,  I achieve it every inspection.  

 

 

[Gasaholic 333]

1 hour ago, Treepep said:

 

 

 

 Going out almost never happens.  When it does it is...usually a disappointment. I have found tasty food trucks and 1 brick and mortar lovingly call a dirty spoon.  Both are scary and good.

 

 

 

Same here. we used to have a lot of good choices around here, most of them closed, and the remaining few, food quality has gone down the toilet (perfect pun there!)  tomatoes tasteless, portions sizes shrinking, and it has gotten to where McDonalds is one of the better tasting options (and I can't eat anything of theirs other than double cheeseburger - everything else gives me the runs), and prices have gone through the roof, ($50 bucks for a pizza and a sub delivered??!! )  even the boxed dinners at the grocery store are largely tasteless... there's just one place we'd go out to eat (if we want a burger or sub sandwich) and we'd only order takeout, since it is a dive bar.... Other than that we're pretty much limited to Sheetz MTO or we'd have to drive 40 plus miles one way for a decent restaurant... Just nothing good any more.  

Edited 17 hours ago by Gasaholic

[Handy Don 14,536]

18 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Best pork schnitzel ever. Gasthof Pfleger and Son in Graz, Austria.   

Small world. Been there and second the recommendation! 

Sadly also pricey and far from local, but another “pork” treat when we’ve been there, the wild boar with polenta at the Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco in Firenze, Italy. 

Our local diner used to be 24-7 and a bargain. The pandemic nearly put it out of business and now only 8am-10pm, much higher prices, smaller portions, and not as good food. Still hunting for a new “go to."

Edited 11 hours ago by Handy Don

[wh500special 2,331]

On 10/25/2025 at 11:28 AM, EB-80/8inPA said:

My favorite old restaurants all seem to have closed!  Rats!

Rats will do that to a restaurant.  
 

Steve

 

[SylvanLakeWH 29,232]

Spike's Keg 'O Nails - Grayling Michigan.

 

Deer Camp, camping, driving by, anytime Up North... Spike Burger and a beer...

 

[Achto 29,752]

On 10/25/2025 at 12:30 PM, wallfish said:

We're blue collar working class guys and certainly wouldn't meet their attire restrictions now.

 

If it says "Bar & Grill" out front, they shouldn't expect me to wear a tie inside.