Westwood Cafeteria

[Tinisha]

Nowthat we're on the subject of eating establishment, I've started remember cafeterias. I remember going to the Piccadilly in Parkdale Mall once back in the 1970s. The Luby's on North 11th Street in the Gaylynn Shopping Center closed down but a new one was built just up the street on the corner of North 11th Street and Interstate 10. In Port Arthur, there was a Luby's in Jefferson City Shopping Center for many years. It's now closed down but a new one was built just a few blocks from it on the corner of Twin City Highway and Texas State Highway 73. There is also a Luby's in Central Mall in Port Arthur.

About 10 years ago, a Luby's opened up over in Orange on the corner of IH-10 and MLK Drive. But it closed down in less than five years. The building is still standing. I'll never understand business, to construct and open up a Luby's just to close it down in a few years. Go figure.

Also over in Orange, there used to be a Wyatt's Cafeteria in Northway Shopping Center. It's now been closed down for quite awhile. There was a Wyatt's on Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur, but it also bit the dust. The only one that I remember here in Beaumont was in the Gateway Shopping Center. At different times in the past, I do rembered going to all of those Wyatt's.

Those cafeterias served what I would call good, "American" dishes. I remember liver & onions, fried/baked chicken, rolls, glasses of iced tea, etc. If all three chains aren't over there in Houston, then I would think that at least two of them are. I'm pretty sure that someone will tell me if I'm right or wrong.

I always loved the white rice with brown gravy and the steaming hot turkey. They seldom offer as a dish anymore on the menu. If your lucky and know the manager he can have someone heat up and take to your table. Wyatts was just as delicious and well kept up. Last Wyatt's I remember visiting was across the street from Pasadena Town Square I think? Reasonable prices too! We still have Dinner Bell Cafeteria over here. You ring your little bell and they wait on your table. Fun days.

Unlike a restaurant where you didn't know what you were getting until the waiter/waitress brought your meal to you, in those cafeterias you could look, see, and pick out exactly what you wanted. In the dessert section, I distinctly remember the fancy glass container of Jell-O and pudding with the squirt of whipped cream on top. Then you'd go to a table, unload all of your dishes while a waitress took the tray.

There's still a Piccadilly open at Northline Mall - it's been there as long as I can remember, possibly since the mall opened, and they still do a very good business. The one at Northwest Mall closed a couple of years ago as part of a corporate restructuring.

I'm still irate that Pappas closed Luby's No. 1 on Buffalo Speedway. The building is still vacant, the last time I drove by there. I'll never understand how they couldn't manage to do well in that location, especially after the huge retirement community was built practically next door!

I remember back in the 60's and 70's the Dinner Bell had the best strawberry shortcake ever! That was our friday night treat, to go stand in line at the Dinner Bell and try to peak over the wall past the fake greenery to see what other people were eating. I always got the baked fish, mashed potatoes and strawberry shortcake. They had a glass case at the checkout and you could buy a little bell for your very own. We always ate on the side where the front door was and I always wanted to get a peek behind that huge accordian door but I never got the chance.

I grew up in Dallas where we used to always go to Furr's Cafeteria. It later became a Luby's, but my parents and I used to go there for Thanksgiving and Christmas so my mom didn't have to cook. My dad didn't care for a la carte, but he sure did enjoy any place that offered a buffet.

"...the entire family en .... ing Luby's, loated at .... Gray and S. Shepherd...a complete line of en .... nd fresh, tasty vegeta ... the menu everyday .... are another speciality at .... where the diner has .... han 20 varieties from .... he can make his choice. ...er dinner treats try the .... is the desserts prepared fresh .... or Luby's cafeteria cus .... The diner has a choice ... cakes and a number ... er dinner treats here. ...afeteria is open ... h Saturday from 11am ... :30pm and from 4:30 ... ntil 8:30 pm for the din .... de. Sunday the cafete .... ains continuous serv ... m 11am until 8pm."

I seem to recall that Luby's sold some of their cafeterias fairly early on, and part of the agreement was that Luby's-owned cafeterias could not bear that name where non-Luby's owned cafeterias existed. This is the reason for the "Romana Cafeterias", which were identical to Luby's (even down to the little girl on the logo).

And there used to be a Picadilly's in Greenspoint Mall. Only went there once. 'Bout sums it up for the quality of their food. Oddly enough, the one in Northline Mall was pretty good. Used to go there with my grandparents alot.

Anyone been to Cleburne Cafeteria on Bissonet? I've never been there but have heard for years it's excellent. I don't think it's a chain of restaurants so maybe you can't compare it to the others mentioned here.

There's still a Picadilly's at Almeda Mall...I ate there with my family for Thanksgiving last year. Same ol' same ol'. Not bad, but its quality doesn't match up to Luby's since Luby's upgraded their menu. Of course, the prices don't match Luby's higher prices either.

There's a difference that I just thought of between cafeterias and restaurants. In a cafeteria you see then select the food you want, then you go to a table and eat it, sometimes all of it, unless you're starving and your eyes are bigger than your stomach.

In a restaurant, you're given all of those appetizers. Some people fill up their stomachs on those things and they're no longer hungry when the main dish that they ordered is brought to them. Some are too embarrassed to ask for a "doggy bag" to take home that which they don't eat, so they leave it for the garbage disposal to consume. I believe that less food is consumed by garbage disposals in cafeterias.

I agree 100%. But the older I get, the less I eat out, in addition to other things. I'm now starting to see that there is no point in paying $20 for a meal in a restaurant when I can get something out of my cabinet that will do the same thing (fill up my stomach) for about 10-20% of that amount.

Cleburne is good but portions are humongous. To me part of the reason for going to a cafeteria is to get a variety of items. An entree, 1 side, at the very most 2, a bread and beverage and that's already too much for me. Doggie bags are readily dispensed, however. I can't even look at their desserts. Pricey for a cafeteria, too. I prefer Harry's on Tuam - smaller portions, more modest prices, good food, better people watching.

I love Harry's and have eaten there since the early 80's although not as much now since I moved to Katy. I really liked their old building with the squeeky floors and somewhat seedy appearance. The new building is nice, just not the same ambiance in my opinion. The food is still excellent though.

Wow! I had completely forgotten about that Romana logo with the little girl. A lot of other businesses and items I remember had a person as part of it logo. I remember Sunshine Cookies had a robust baker (maybe it still does). I also remember Ramada Inn (now simply called Ramada) had a rotund inkeeper holding a long horn with a flag attached to the bottom with the words "RAMADA INN."

"L-C Cafeteria - .. A seating capacity of ... ons, the L-C Cafeteria ...ged by Jerry Karisty ...said to be the largest ... ial cafeteria in the ... located with entrances ... at Walker and Travis ... er it is open for break .... nch and dinner. Featur- ...widest variety of foods. ... specializes in Kentucky ... icken, a lunch for less .... cents and a ribeye .... for $1.35. The cafeteria ... its own pastry shop .... tries served there and ... e-out trade.. There is .... of room for banquets ... ies. Continuous service ... :30 to 8:30 pm daily .... Sunday."

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