100 Comments:

• One of mine is The Crazy Horse. The original one off the 55 Freeway in Santa Ana. It's the place I most wanted to go once I turned 21, and I enjoyed the food, dancing, and music there for years. I can't believe this nationally acclaimed legendary club was closed down and relocated to (ugh!)The Irvine Spectrum. I've never set foot in the new Crazy Horse and never will.

  By  Colleen, at January 23, 2006 11:00 AM  

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• The Original Pizza in New Port Beach. Steve made the best!! Not sure if it is still there.

  By  Rich, at February 26, 2006 2:52 AM  

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• My old favorite was,although not a true restaurant, Oscar's drive-in on Garden Grove Blvd. Also I'd cruise to Bob's Big Boy in Santa Ana drive-in and sometimes to Bob's in Whittier, straight up Harbor Blvd to Whittier Blvd. Before the fast food taco joints we had the original taco palace called Taco Lita on GG Blvd near Harbor,late 50's and early 60's. It truly was the good old days before the land rapists like the Irvine Co. ruined it all.

  By  Anonymous, at April 06, 2006 12:30 PM  

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• My favorite was Wimpy's in HB, the tiny hamburger shack across the street from the pier. The best real banana shakes on the planet! I remember surfing the cliffs as a teenager in the 80's and ending my sessions with a snack at Wimpy's before heading home. Too bad they never took my offer to "pay them on Tuesday for a hamburger today." It's also too bad that they tore Wimpy's down and built a mall on top of it. That little shack was a historical landmark in the city of Huntington Beach, a real taste of historical OC; it would have been nice if the city had included it in the "Surf City" marketing plan. 5 Jack's Surfboards, but no Wimpy's hamburgers and shakes. It would have dovetailed perfectly into the Surf City plan--a real 50's drive through across the street from the reconstructed pier, right next to a mall with lots of people spending money. What an attraction it could have been! Oh well, there's always Johnny Rockets or In-N-Out, but the view will never be the same.

  By  Anonymous, at April 07, 2006 9:48 PM  

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• Please, please, someone help me out here! It was the fanciest, priciest restaurant in Santa Ana, just across from Buffin's on Main Street. The women's menu had no prices. Two short words, think they were French. The mind is rotting away, so I really need your memory. Thanks.

  By  Anonymous, at April 09, 2006 8:07 PM  

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• The restaurant is Chez Cary (prounounced shay ka'ree').

  By  Anonymous, at April 09, 2006 8:16 PM  

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• When I was a kid in Huntington Beach, we used to go to Original Sam's for pizza, root beer & old movies on Friday nights....

  By  Anonymous, at April 12, 2006 4:27 PM  

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• A friend of mine who lived in Orange County as a girl (we didn't know each other then) and I recently discovered that our parents took us to the same Mexican restaurant. (We think.) It was in either Newport Beach or Huntington Beach, and the defining factor we both remember is that children could pick a brown paper "goodie bag" upon leaving the restaurant. I also seem to remember they had a fountain indoors. This was in the early 1970s. Any one have a clue what/where it was?

  By  taxihopscotch, at May 01, 2006 8:55 PM  

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• My favorite was Bob's Big Boy in Santa Ana on Bristol. Went there all the time with my folks as a kid.
  
  I remember the big statue out front of Bob was stolen all the time. They finally had to bolt him down!

  By  Chris, at May 08, 2006 11:58 PM  

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• Chez Cary later became Ambrosia (I think) it was also a very upscale resturant at the time.
  It's pretty recent but I was sorry to see Allegro on Tustin (in Orange go under)and since I grew up in Seal Beach I loved and still miss the tostadas at Casa Castillo (On Los Alamitos Blvd. Los Alamitos).

  By  stuart wallach, at May 09, 2006 1:11 PM  

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• Also miss Love's Wood Pit BBQ, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor, The Pop Shoppe, and Bob's Big Boy. They opened a Bob's out in San Bernardino somewhere recently, we took the kids on the way back from Nevada and it was a blast from the past!

  By  Dave from X-Realms, at May 23, 2006 5:09 PM  

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• Rubinos is definitely great pizza! They have a location on Oso and Marguerite and another on Marguerite and Santa Margarita Pkwy.(which is cheaper and tastes better for some reason). There used to be a restaurant called Bobby McGee's on Marguerite and College drive, it was at the bottom of a big hill and they had waiters dressed up in costumes come around to kids giving out goodies. There is a fantastic little deli in Huntington Beach named Sammy's off Beach and Talbert, they have incredible burgers and shakes.

  By  Leeanne, at May 25, 2006 12:10 PM  

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• Can someone tell me the name of the upscale half of the Coco's restaurant in Anaheim,or Santa Ana? It was actually in the same building and had steaks, etc.This would have been in the 60's. Don't remember exact location except it was by El Toro.

  By  Anonymous, at May 31, 2006 3:50 PM  

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• To the above commenter, I think the upscale half of Coco's was called "Reubens". They also operated a restaurant inside the Reuben E. Lee.

  By  Steve, at May 31, 2006 5:14 PM  

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• Does anyone remember LaFondas Mexican Restaurant in Santa Ana? They always sponsored local sports teams and served great food. Are they still there? If so, what was their location? If not, when did they close?

  By  Anonymous, at June 02, 2006 4:02 PM  

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• I can smell it now....in front of the Garden Grove Theatre was Zesto's. King of the double patty grilled on that hot grill with onions. I worked across the street at my Dad's surplus store and would crave those burgers. I remember the first time I at McDonalds and told my Mom that it was nothing compared to Zesto's.

  By  Mark for Cab & Chocolate, at June 05, 2006 4:53 PM  

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• I need a great resturant in Anaheim area that serves steak and lobster. We used to go to charlie brown's, I need some ideas for my son's 14th b-day.

  By  Anonymous, at June 11, 2006 8:20 PM  

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• Anyone remember Fiddler's Three in Tustin off Irvine Blvd....or Shakees in Tustin when they played the banjos....what was the name of the Mexican restaurant in Santa Ana that was more of a home than a restaurant and had great food.....or, dancing at Montezuma's Revenge in the 80's.....yes--born and raised in Tustin in the 60's and 70's....great times...

  By  Anonymous, at June 14, 2006 8:31 PM  

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• I miss Belisle's at Harbor and Chapman in Garden Grove. Everything was home made and the portions were generous. Also Noel's in Sunset beach.

  By  Anonymous, at June 20, 2006 12:39 AM  

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• I too miss Belisle's.... i used to call it the pink restaurant. My mom took me there when i was tiny, and we'd get the chocolate sunday. It was HUGE! Rubino's was also a favorite of mine..but I thought they were long gone. Glad to know they are still around. One of my FAVORITE restaurants of all time is the White House in Anaheim.... I love that place, and if I lived closer, I'd go there weekly. It's so worth the price, and amazing decor and ambiance. Heck, i'd go 5 stars every night if I could. I miss Burrell's.. the location now in Santa Ana has definite personality being in a neighborhood, but it was so nice to have it off Sand Canyon which is now a Denny's. I also loved Easter at Billy Mitchell's Acacia in Garden Grove. That restaurant was grand! I grew up on their omlets on sunday brunch.

  By  Anonymous, at June 23, 2006 10:01 PM  

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• The April 9th writer mentioned a pricy restaurant across from Buffums on Main in Santa Ana. It was Chez Cary, but it was across from what is now Main Place in Orange. The location is now a parking lot. It was owned by Cary Sinclair. The menu was very expensive at the time...around $10-$15 per person...strictly a special occasion place. It was not related to Ambrosia in Newport Beach. Chez Cary also featured a weekly musical showcase. One regular performer was Jennifer Warnes (Time of My Life with Bill Medley). Prior to it becoming the Chez, it was called The Parisiene. Very upscale, dark, and themed like an outdoor Paris Cafe. This would have been in the late 50's or early 60's.
  Some other fond food memories was Kenny's Hamburgers on 17th & Tustin. Great burgers and always about a pound of potato chips. Also in the late 50's, a great coffee shop at 17th & Bristol (a bank building there now) called Yum Yums. Real old-timers will remember Pop's Restaurant on E. 4th near the train station. There was also fine dining on Main near 3rd (can't remember the name). It later became McLean Cadillac.

  By  Anonymous, at June 25, 2006 1:43 AM  

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• So now we know that Chez Cary is not currently Ambrosia, but there IS an Ambrosia restaurant in Santa Ana at the OC Pavillion. Any reviews of that restaurant?

  By  Anonymous, at June 29, 2006 1:43 PM  

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• awwww man.. no one mentioned the buttery or farmhouse resturaunts in buena park. gee whiz. i can't believe it. both of those places were the epitome of mid century kitsch. they were both on the same lot, on beach and manchestr , just before the 91.there was , and amybe still is, a neon windmill that could be seen from the freeway. the farm house was more of a buffet, but it wasn't all you can eat.. more like a cafeteria i guess.. the buttery was more fancy , i guess.. inside the buttery there were quasi antique/lamp mutant decorations, or things like an "antique' cigar lighter turned into a toothpick dispenser, and some wierd murals on the walls of the banquet room.. one word CHEESY. the farm house was just as wierd, and lasted longer than the buttery .. i drove through just for the hell of it and it's all auto dealerships. what i'd give to have sunday dinner at the buttery again, it wasn't my favorite food, but MAN it was wierd..

  By  Anonymous, at July 20, 2006 8:47 PM  

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• waitaminute... noone mentioned the shakeys in anehiem !!!!!!!!!! that huge pipe organ and the "mr. nickelodeon " guy.. please, someone tell me you remember this..

  By  Anonymous, at July 24, 2006 9:22 PM  

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• Does anyone remember the Burger Square Restaurant in Orange? On Katella Ave, one block east of Glassel. My Grandfater opened the restaurant in 1967 and had it for a good 7-10 years. It was a family restaurant that had a huge menu. Fried Catfish every Friday night created lines out the door. It was a hot spot for filling the tummy. No alcohol back then was served in these types of restaurants. However every table had an ashtray.

  By  Joeymac, at August 28, 2006 10:35 PM  

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• I worked for the Chez Cary Restaurant from 1975 to 1979. It was a great time. Daily I cooked real Dover Sole from the English channel, Froglegs, Abalone,Sweetbreads, etc etc. I was 16 when I started there and was trained by Swiss Chef Fred Hossli. One of the best Sauciers that I had ever known.
  Names like Gabby, Henry, Johny Ahn, Hanz, Sean, Ray, Klauss,Doug Cull, James Sly all come to mind. The good old days!

  By  joeymac, at August 28, 2006 10:45 PM  

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• We grew up in Garden Grove, moving there in 1956. Used to go down Chapman Ave. at Brookhurst to the Pink Spot - anybody remember it? (Wendy's location now) Around 1965 our high school friend, Shorty Conrad, flipped burgers there. He made my brother and I a burger with at least 10 patties each one night! We ate them too! My mom is 88 now - still wants to go to Zody's to shop! Remember White Front? Food Giant? The Akron Store? Remember the small market/candy shop across the street from GGHS? We used to take "Highway 39" to Knotts for a free night of fun. Bob's on Garden Grove Blvd. and Oscar's were cruise spots. Cops drove fast Mopars and wore helmets. Good memories.

  By  Anonymous, at August 31, 2006 8:23 PM  

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• I have forgotten the name of the restaurant that used to be on Adams near Brookhurst in the 1980's. You could make your own hamburgers and my kids used to love it. Does anyone remember the name?

  By  Anonymous, at October 07, 2006 6:32 PM  

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• I don't remember the food quality, but when I was a kid I loved it when my Grandparents would take me to the Kona Hawaii restaurant in Santa Ana on Harbor blvd. I remember it so well because of the jungle theme and the stream running through the restaurant! I believe that it is still standing...

  By  Anonymous, at October 09, 2006 12:08 PM  

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• Gee, this brings back memories! I was born (1942) and raised in Tustin, went through all the schools and graduated from Tustin High. One of my mom's favorites was the Chez Cary. She loved that her menu did not have prices and they also provided a little footstool for her feet. Pop's Steak House was my dad's favorite and it was delicious food. I have the original recipe for their famous garlic bread. I also have most of the original menus from local restaurants, including Merle's Drive-In down at the beach. I have a question which has been bugging me for years.....Dr. Dexter Ball had an office "downtown" Santa Ana, next to a Rexall drugstore, as I recall. Next to that or nearby was the best hamburger restaurant. It was either called Tiny's or owned by some huge guy named Tiny. Anyone have any information on that place? Thanks for the memories. Linda (Hermon) Hayes, Carlsbad.

  By  Linda (Hermon) Hayes, at November 01, 2006 9:53 PM  

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• The Chez Cary was awesome, the bartenders made the best "Pousse Cafe's" - a beverage with leveled colors of alchohol. Unfortunately it was torn down for an ugly parking lot.
  
  The new Ambrosia is located in the OC Pavilion - it is probably the best/fanciest restaurant in OC right now, even over The Ritz. I was just there and they seem to know you and take care of you as soon as you park the car and walk to the building. The atmosphere is quite nice inside and I love the small trio band that plays while you eat. Be prepared to spend at least $100 per person - easy... but it is worth it.

  By  Anonymous, at November 17, 2006 2:36 PM  

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• there seems to be a lot of confussion over the chez cary and the ambrosia,the chez cary was first opened under the mgt of cary sinclair prior to that sinclair had managed the villa fontana. sinclair left the villa and opened the chez cary for nathan rosental, a big wig I believe in the teamsters . ask guido to be continued

  By  Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 9:58 AM  

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• joeymac this is guido falco I worked with you at the chez Im in woodstock Ga. Im in the book lets talk

  By  Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 10:09 AM  

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• Sinclair left the chez cary under suspicious circumstances, geril and gus muller took over the helm of the chez cary a few years later they openned ambrosia a carbon copy of the chez cary down to the crushed red velvet chairs. I actually worked in both restaurants, the ambrosia in the early seventies and the chez in late 70's . they were the most high end eateries of there time I believe both of the muller brothers are gone now. and by the way cary is pronounced like drew cary the guest were allways changing it to Karee it was never pronounced as a french word. Everything was prepared tabele side or finnished at the table 6 tables and 3 servers the likes of which nyou will rarely see anywhere today. the check average was well into the 60 $ range or more the wine list looked like a bible. more later ask guido any old friends out thier

  By  Anonymous, at December 01, 2006 10:19 AM  

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• the ambrosia was started by geril and gus muller both danes gus was cool geril was a bit of a prussian but if you proved yourself you did ok by him. they had a capitol partner {no idea who} . geril had a son who I believe is still in oc the restaurant was set up just like the chez I think it was just a tad smaller than the chez cary and it had originally held karems an upscale restaurant of similar style both the chez cary and ambrosia catered to the shakers and makers of oc society, on any given sunday or monda y tues... you could run into the duke{john wayne} chuck heston or the reverend shuller with the like of diva beverly sills burl Ives and many more, richard nixon and even the governor {regan} . more later ask guido

  By  Anonymous, at December 02, 2006 10:17 AM  

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• WE TOO MISS BELISLE'S RESTAURANT ESPECIALLY THEIR TRIPLE DECKER CAKE. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE RESTAURANT'S RECIPES!!!! WE MOVED TO NORTHERN CA. 10 YRS. AGO AND WHEN WE VISIT THE O.C. WE USUALLY STAY AT EMBASSY SUITES ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR BELOVED BELISLE'S

  By  Anonymous, at December 10, 2006 12:44 PM  

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• Does anyone remember Guadalara? I went there alot as a kid and couldnt find it when I went back out there. I loved the green sauce over the burritos. Anyone know if they moved?

  By  Anonymous, at January 17, 2007 7:18 AM  

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• I'm so depressed to hear Wimpy's has been replaced by... a MALL. I've been scouring the internet looking for the motel we used to stay at right on the beach and right next to Wimpy's so we could always have a fantastic and greasy late night snack. I guess this explains why I couldn't find it. God I'm so depressed now.

  By  Anonymous, at January 21, 2007 11:35 PM  

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• I've got some old recipes from places like Chez Cary and the Riviera at South Coast Plaza if anyone is interested. Would love to trade and pass on for all.

  By  MERMAID, at February 01, 2007 8:51 PM  

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• I dined regularly at the Ambrosia restaurant in Newport Beach. The Ambrosia was created by brothers Gus and Geril Muller who brought fine dining to Orange County. These two restaurateurs were innovators and created dining experiences which have never been duplicated since it was closed in the mid 80’s. I had many enjoyable evenings at the Ambrosia from Geril’s narrated la Chaine des Rotisseurs dinners to political fund-raisers; every dinner was flawless. Every time we were at the Ambrosia someone interesting was having dinner from politics, film or business. Geril and Gus groomed their nephew Howard Kent to one day take over the restaurant. I recently ran into Howard who still lives in Newport Beach and he told me that Geril doing great. My wife and I wish that the original Ambrosia was still around.

  By  Anonymous, at February 09, 2007 11:11 AM  

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• How about Pepas Pizza in Orange that had the player piano and bench seating. There was also Lucky's Pizza in ornge that had black lights and real dim lighting, they had a pastrami pizza that was out of this world. another favorite of our family was Waynes Steakhouse on Katella in Orange, the were there for years and always had great food.

  By  Anonymous, at March 11, 2007 10:06 AM  

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• There hae been several comments about the Chez Cary & original Ambrosia. They indeed were the creation of Geril & Gus Muller. And yes, Geril is doing well. I just wanted to clarify that the new Ambrosia in Santa Ana is not related to the original Ambrosia as many articles have claimed. The trademark was copied from the original Ambrosia and some of the amenities, but it does not have the creativity or the heart of the Muller brothers in it.

  By  Anonymous, at March 18, 2007 2:38 PM  

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• When you went to Cocos on 17th in Santa Ana, across from Nissan and in the same parking lot as Handyman, you had to wait what seemed like an eternity for them to call your family's name and "party of....", and then they had the best shakes in silver goblets, and the Cocos combo, with the accordian paper, the small salad in a plastic dish, and burger and fries. And for kids, the chocolate sundae in a silver bowl with chocolate sauce. The dinners stayed warm under orange flood lights, and then the cookies in plastic packages and yellows labels at the register where your parents paid.

  By  Kevin, at April 20, 2007 10:08 PM  

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• POP's STEAK HOUSE in Santa Ana - Does anyone have the recipe for Pop's CHEESE SAUCE they used on their BAKED POTATOES? Ah.... such great memories for my husband and I (we didn't know each other then, but both families frequented Pop's often.)

  By  TERRI, at April 28, 2007 7:20 PM  

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• Did anyone out there cook at Love's Wood Pit Bar BQ? I have always wanted the recipe for their pork ribs. They were as special as the beans.

  By  Anonymous, at May 20, 2007 6:43 PM  

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• I was married to Cary Sinclair in 1970. I visited the Chez Cary on our honeymoon and met the Rosenthals. I never knew about his wrong-doings in California. Can anyone tell me?
  One day he showed me a newspaper where they quoted: "Drop charges against Sinclair" Not knowing enough English limited me to understand what this meant. He opened a sucessful steak and lobster operation in Acapulco, Mexico where I am from, with his partner Carlos Mendoza. After our divorce in 1977, I moved to Texas. He opened 4-5 more restaurants. His original Black Beards was very sucessful. I remember him welcoming Henry Kissinger, Roger Moore, Johnny Carson (I never knew until later, who they were)... :[
  
  I learned from friends in Acapulco that he went broke.
  
  I think he still operates one of the restaurants... I am in contact with him off and on through the Internet... Ex wife, Elvia

  By  Elvia Wallace-Martinez, at May 28, 2007 7:29 AM  

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• Geril Mueller was a great guy, my Dad supplied both the Chez Cary and the Ambrosia and he and Geril were very good friends, the Muellers were nice enough to have us over to their home one time. Whenever Geril needed an emergency delivery, my mom and sister would ride along with my Dad and I and Geril would bring out a long stemmed, chocolate covered strawberry for each of them as a thank you! My favorite place was the Palms Restaurant at Raymond and Orangethorpe. It was on the corner near where Laura Scudders later stood. It was themed polynesian and I always had the ground beef steak, fries, two or three huge onion rings on top of the meat and they always gave us a cup of pineapple/coconut icecream! And don't forget Sams Seafood in Sunset Beach!!

  By  teeoc, at June 28, 2007 12:28 PM  

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• I remember the Pink Spot also, the burgers were excellent.

  By  teeoc, at June 28, 2007 12:29 PM  

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• I miss Chicago Chicago Pizza and Pasta in Irvine University Center. Great food and great people. Sorry to see them go!

  By  Anonymous, at July 13, 2007 1:44 PM  

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• Giorgio's in Aliso Viejo.

  By  Anonymous, at July 13, 2007 1:44 PM  

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• I went to Lathrop Jr. High School. Nothing will ever take the place of the original In and Out. Also (graduating Santa Ana High in '59) we use to cruise Main Street between North and South Halls. Now THOSE were the good 'ol days!!

  By  Anonymous, at July 24, 2007 5:38 PM  

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• I grew up in Irvine in the 70's and 80's, and my family's favorite restaurant was Bob Burns. Going there in December (especially when the Fashion Island Christmas tree was up) was a tradition that spanned a couple of decades for us. We also dearly loved Casa Maria in Dana Point, which sadly became an El Torito.
  
  When I was a child, my favorites were the Jolly Roger (where you could wear a paper pirate hat!), and of course, Farrell's ice cream parlor.
  
  In high school our hangout was Hudson's in Irvine, and you knew you were somebody if your birthday party was at Bobby McGee's.
  
  My very first date took me to the Magic Pan in South Coast Plaza. I felt so grown up. A wonderful memory!
  
  One beloved restaurant from my childhood that I'm happy to say is still around is Roma d' Italia in Tustin!

  By  Anonymous, at July 31, 2007 8:38 PM  

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• Farrell's on Beach Blvd. was the ultimate dinner destination for kids! My brother, sister and I would BEG to go!! Mario's across from Marina H.S. was a favorite hang out as I got older.
  Later,...my one and only job at a restaurant was at the Jolly Knight on Garden Grove Blvd. Great people and great steaks!

  By  Arlene C, at August 09, 2007 7:51 AM  

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• Here's another closure to add to your collection - Denny's at Adams and Brookhurst, Huntington Beach. It opened in '76? and never closed its doors except for one night to get a lock put on.

  By  bradleyr, at August 09, 2007 2:52 PM  

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• Denny's at Brookhurst and Adams, Huntington Beach is closed after some 30+ years.

  By  Anonymous, at August 09, 2007 3:02 PM  

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• Any one remember "Ham's Country Cookery"? It was one Bristol near Sunflower. The best coffee shop ever.

  By  Anonymous, at August 11, 2007 7:14 AM  

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• Some Responses:
  
  For ALL you that LOVED "Love's!!
  
  You can go to the old site fo the Brea LOVE's. A cook from that place opened a place there called RILEY's! Same ribs, same BEANS! Same SAUCE...Its been open for 5+ years! Go there and patronize it...
  
  For BBQ also go to :
  
  Blake's Place on Miraloma Street near Blue Gum (east of State College). Wonderful sauce/sandwiches/ribs!
  
  Website:
  http://www.blakesplacebbq.com/

  By  Anonymous, at August 11, 2007 9:31 AM  

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• I love Pizza but not the crust, most of the time & throw out the hand held part or feed it to my dogs that love Pizza as much as me, because it tastes like cheap bread to me…. Till I tried BJ Grunts in Balboa & It hooked me on the Thick Crust that I love. I’ve had friends out for Pizza & they want Extra Extra Thin Crust. I think that they want a Cracker with a thin slice of processed cheese & a bit of Catsup on top.

  By  mike, at September 01, 2007 3:47 AM  

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• Wow! I was just a sprout in the 80s but I totally loved and remembered several of these... Bob's Big Boy spattered about the OC, still have my Big Boy bank. Bebop Burgers, beyond awesome. I used to be insufferable towards my mother to go there, have my frisbee that looks like a 45 record. Wimpy's by the pier, practically lived there during the summer. I think I just bummed myself out.

  By  Anonymous, at September 07, 2007 9:05 AM  

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• I also remember and loved Ham's restaurant on Bristol. The owners and empoyees were always extra nice.
  I recall a restaurant in La Habra on Harbor Blvd. near Imperial Hwy. It was in the 60's and 70's. I believe it was called Ronardo's. They served Italian country food. It was always dark and the jumbo prawns and wonderful soups were terrific. Whatever happened to it and when?

  By  Anonymous, at September 13, 2007 1:07 PM  

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• The Chart House, Newport Beach,(1967) can ya remember waiting outside for a few mins(usually 45 mins) with the line of people just chomping at the bit for dinner? The menue was posted on huge bottles, the grill was inside the dinning area, steak, lobster, crab, five kinds of hot bread plus huge bowls of fresh green salad, most dinners were about $8.50, drinks extra, nautical, es was al! This place was the old Jerry's coffe shop from the late fifties, across the the street from the Balboa Bay club,Terry Jay and company! you would be very hard pressed to find dinning like this, anywhere today in California!

  By  Anonymous, at September 18, 2007 8:32 PM  

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• Here are some.
  Burger Q, Whittier Blvd., La Habra (later Fullerton, too)
  Beefcutter, San Clemente
  Francois's, Huntington Beach

  By  Anonymous, at September 22, 2007 10:26 PM  

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• oes anyone remember the resturant on pch and mcartur that had a guy in a gorilla suit standing on cornr it was a jungle themed restaurnt or drive in?

  By  Anonymous, at September 22, 2007 11:29 PM  

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• where can i find a loves restarunt?

  By  Anonymous, at September 22, 2007 11:41 PM  

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• anyone remember sir georges, smorgasbord, or hansa house bufet by disneyland?

  By  Anonymous, at September 22, 2007 11:42 PM  

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• yummm, Bobs Big Boy and The Big Boy special. The hot fudge brownie cake was/is to die for. Nothing better then that. Sad day when they closed the one in Anaheim. That was the place to go with friends late at night. I stopped at the one in Baker, Ca. on the way home from Vegas a few months back. Brought back a ton of memories, but just didnt taste like it used to. Sad to say. To the above person who asked what the upscale restaurant was in Garden Grove that Cocos owned..it was called Reuben's Plankhouse. My dad would take us there. My sisters and brother and I would always get Shirley Temples and the fried shrimp plate..Yum!!!

  By  Anonymous, at October 04, 2007 10:22 PM  

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• does anyone remember the restaurant called Delaney's Seafood restaurant? Or Capri Deli? They made the best corned beef sandwich. I also miss Swenson's Ice Cream parlor on Euclid. We would walk down there during the summer and get a scoop of sticky eewy Chocolate.

  By  MisstheOC, at October 04, 2007 10:30 PM  

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• Yes! I remember Sir George's Smorgasbord! Both my sisters worked there during high school. They would bring home some of the fried fritters after work, they were so good.

  By  Anonymous, at October 04, 2007 10:35 PM  

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• Anyone remember No-No's chicago style pizza in Orange on Tustin Ave. across from the old K-Mart store?
  
  Or Daddy-O's in old town Tustin?

  By  Anonymous, at October 16, 2007 3:52 AM  

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• how about jerrys bbq on 17th and sa river,and belisis on chapman

  By  Anonymous, at October 16, 2007 9:42 PM  

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• For the person who asked about PCH & MacArthur restaurant with the guy in the gorillla suit, it was The Zoo drive-in :) I loved the Zoo!
  
  I also miss Bob Burns in Fashion Island, Miyako (where Tutu Mare is now), the Rigger (a burger place in Fashion Island), Delaney's on the Peninsula, Bouzy Rouge Cafe (where I first met nouveaux Beaujolais), Gustaf Anders, Ham's Country Cookery, Spires by the Airport, Chanteclair, the Snack Shop in Corona del Mar..... so many more from my childhood in OC. Oh! and and the dining rooms at Buffums in Fashion Island and Bullocks at Santa Ana.

  By  Scott, at October 24, 2007 8:46 PM  

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• The Cask n' Cleaver in Orange had a good run in the early 90's. Too bad the Keagle's painted it teal and mauve, and changed the concept.
  
  Also, the old Marri's Pizza (before it changed to Ecco's) next to the Orange Mall - You could write your name/graffiti on the walls/tables/floor. Great sauce on their pies. Miss the smell of that place.

  By  Anonymous, at November 08, 2007 9:25 PM  

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• Ah Marri's Pizza! There was one on Katella near Ball that was a total Disney cast member hang out!

  By  Scott, at November 11, 2007 10:57 AM  

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• I remember Fiddlers Three Restarant in Carson Mall,Ca . It had the best Cheddar Cheese Soup,I ever had .Is there somewhere,that they have that soup , or does anyone know how to make it? Nov 2007

  By  cindys kats, at November 14, 2007 4:04 PM  

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• Can anyone remember the name of the hamburger place on the northeast corner of Main and Edinger in Santa Ana from about 1963. It was just north of the Sears store. I remember going there often with my Father. I dont think there were any Mc D s around the area then. It has bugged me for a long time that I cant remember the name of it.

  By  brian, at November 15, 2007 8:42 PM  

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• There was also the Shakeys on 17th ST in Tustin. It is still there I went several years ago...was not quite the fun place as it was in the 60s

  By  brian, at November 15, 2007 8:43 PM  

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• North East corner of Main and Edinger was Hall's, and the Zoo replaced Merle's on the Coast Hwy and McArther. Hot Rod hang out in the '50s. Many a race started from there, and went up the hill onto McArther. (Many a crash too.) How about memories of a small coffee shop squeezed between the Old City Hall and Pep Boys on Main St between 1st and 2nd? I had many a haircut at Hoffman's, and a BLT at this place, but don't remember the name.

  By  Anonymous, at November 27, 2007 8:13 PM  

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• I remember the Fiddlers Three in Tustin. I LOVED the cheese soup. I have an old recipe for it torn out of the LA Times from long, long ago. Never have tried it so don't know if it really tastes like the real thing or not....I should give it a go. If you want it, let me know.

  By  Punkcat, at December 07, 2007 6:57 PM  

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• I worked at the Fiddler's Three in Long Beach near the University and the VA Hospital for 10 years,in the 80's. it was a great place to work, a family atmosphere. Still in touch with about a dozen former employees. Yes! The cheese soup was our specialty, along with the squaw bread or sourdough round loaves. Also popular was the Fiddler Burger,chicken fried steak and great pies.
  I miss Fiddler's,miss the fun of waitressing and miss old friends.

  By  Anonymous, at December 15, 2007 11:00 AM  

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• How about the VELVET TURTLE at Fashion Island? It was alway a great place for lunch or dinner. Not cheap-not expensive, but very good.

  By  Anonymous, at December 16, 2007 10:30 AM  

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• Yeah, I miss the Velvet Turtle chain, they were great :) The restaurant I REALLY miss from Fashion Island is Bob Burns. I LOVED that place! I also miss Yamato's at Fashion Island. And I was a dishwasher at the Estrella Dining Room at Buffum's Fashion Island. My first job when I was 15 years old. There was also a deli in Fashion Island, but it's name escapes me. My sister was a hostess there.
  
  I think I also mentioned before missing the Rigger Restaurant that was a burger joint in Fashion Island. It was part of the Jolly Roger chain and had a location in Waikiki as well.

  By  scottca075, at December 16, 2007 8:59 PM  

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• Wow - what memories! not my favorite restaurants, but here's what I remember:
  Near where the main place is now - Hams, Miyako's, the deli/bagel place, The Pizza Store, the original knowlwood's... the smorgasboard place, farrell's, the first Swensen's off of Chapman (with blackberry icecream & hot apple sundaes), Sombrero Street, H Salt Fish & Chips next to the 31 flavors on Tustin, cask and cleaver, La Fiesta at the Orange mall, El Taco, Del taco, the A & W...

  By  Anonymous, at December 23, 2007 11:05 PM  

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• Ah I had forgotten Miyako's in Town & Country center across from Fashion Square. There was also a great Italian place in there that had the best stombolis! There was a smorgasbord place in Corona del Mar called Villa Sweeden where the CdM Kiwanis Club used to meet. I had a lot of lunches there as a Key Clubber. H. Salt Esq. was also in CdM (maybe they still are?). I also remember when Kaplan's was in South Coast Plaza and the cool place for lunch in South Coast was Salmagundi's!

  By  scottca075, at December 24, 2007 1:25 PM  

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• Yes! Salmagundi's! The best selection of soups and salads. I loved it on a cold day. The casual atmosphere was great. All good things must come to an end. Anyone remember the Trops chocolate shop where you could buy miniature cakes decorated and placed in a gift box? It was the perfect gift for a birthday.

  By  Anonymous, at December 27, 2007 8:51 AM  

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• I grew up in Orange, I do remember the Chez Cary and right next to it was the Marse Inn. I remember the smell of Chinese food from Koo's on Main St. Santa Ana, always a treat. A great little place called The Snack Shop on Chapman in Orange, The Iron Horse which later became La Brasier. How about the old A & W RootBeer on Tustin Ave. in orange,The trick was to swipe a mug out of there, I still have mine. Foster Freeze on Chapman, the best lemonade.The Cape on Tustin Ave. in Santa Ana, great sea food and chowder.All great memories and wonderful food and good times!!!

  By  rondog, at January 04, 2008 7:05 PM  

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• I've got the Fiddler's Three Cheese Soup recipe, along with lots of others. How about the Riviera Pepper Steak or the Ono Ono salad dressing from The Royal Hawaiian. Got it! I used to work at a long gone restaurant in Tustin called Spurlocks and also at the Tustin branch of Tony's Sea Landing when Tony still owned it. Been collecting restaurant recipes for years. Post your email and I'll forward to you. My Mom used to save all the SOS recipe sections from LA Times and Ask Your Neighbor from the Register. When she passed away I found hundreds of old local recipes.

  By  mermaid, at January 09, 2008 11:54 AM  

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• Fiddler's Three Cheese Soup
  
  1 cup shredded carrots
  1 cup thinly sliced celery
  2/3 cup thinly sliced onion
  2 1/2 T chicken soup base
  2 1/2 cups water
  1/3 cup flour
  3 cups whole milk
  1 pound good quality sharp cheddar cheese, grated (do not use pre-grated)
  salt & fresh pepper to taste
  
  Add the carrots, celery, and onions to chicken soup base mixed with water. Cover and simmer 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
  Blend the flour and 1 1/2 cups of the milk and add to the vegetable mixture, stirring well. Add the remaining milk and cook until thickened, about 15 minutes. Add the cheese and stir until just melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. It was served with a dark rye or pumpernickle bread and lots of butter. Enjoy SSOINTOYOU@msn.com

  By  Mermaid, at January 12, 2008 10:39 AM  

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• FANTASTIC memories of CrazyHorse, the food, not the men I was with. Abrosia 1979 by the Cannery was THE classiest most elegant place to experience: felt like being in Hello Dolly. Just found out Bob Burns is gone (i'm in NorCal now) and it broke my heart; it was the most elegant next to Ambrosia= not enough space for positive adjectives, being Scot-Irish, very sentimental. Moved to HB in 68 age 12, so very angry and sad at how much has changed, from 25,000 people to -- well, after war in '75OC started changing too much too fast. Remember Mione's on Lido had the best pizza (Two Guys on Warner in HB too) Five Points, Marios? Remember the Surf Theater? Belisles off Ball (anaheim?) was FANTASTIC! How could anyone eat all that wonderful food!? A whole duck? ala orange dinner for $11, Farrell's for our birthday ice cream, THE ZOO! There was this little fish place, began with a "P"? that had the best fish/chips just two doors north of Blackies at Newport Pier and they gave out long balloons that everyone in the small cafe would blow up and end up tying their balloons together! fun! and great fish & chips! Crab Cooker great too, but expensive and long wait and not much food on the plate.. Remember Will Wright's ice cream at the Irvine Ave/PCH signal (down the street from John Wayne's house and across the beach from the Reuben E. Lee boat? The Orange Inn before the entire beautiful landscape was ripped up by the Irvine Ranch was a great place to stop on a bike ride from Laguna back home to HB or after surfing.. I wonder if the Sunset House? is still in Sunset Beach near Superman's sign? Great tuna omlettes! and finally - because i'm so homesick for the early 70's HB, remember Crossroads on Brookhurst, international restaurant where you could get Yugoslavian (dad loved), British, French, Italian, and one other, very very nice....

  By  nancepalajacmrswesturn, at January 20, 2008 10:19 AM  

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• In 1970 after going to the Chez Cary restaurant for a Sales Meeting with the President of our company (I went there after work without a coat for which they were were most willing to provide, classy I thought at my young age of 25) I made up my mind that I was going to save my money and take my wife to the restaurant. It had made an life long impression on me. When I went I got a menu that had no prices so I had no idea of the cost. At any rate I saved up almost 40.00 which I thought would probably be enough to buy the restaurant at the time. At any rate I took my wife there and we had a wonderful dinner unlike anything either of us had ever experienced, with the Red Rose, the foot cushion, the deserts flaming at the table. Wow was it great, it came time for the bill and when I saw that it was over $60.00 I mentioned to our waiter Gaby, that I was short, what could I do. He politely said he would send me the bill, now I was really impressed. I became a regular customer until the sad day that it closed. I spent $1000.00's of dollars there in the years that followed and I was always very proud of the Credit Card (my first) from the Chez Cary. In fact I still have the card and anytime I look at it I say that this was the best restaurant I had ever been to. Some polite and trusting people with good quality product made me a happy customer for many years. I was sad to say the least when it closed for reasons I never knew. At any rate thank you for that experience, it made a young man, feel motivated to make something of himself...jamie

  By  trojan41, at January 27, 2008 9:53 PM  

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• Another restaurant no longer with us - Gorda Liz, a Portuguese restaurant in Newport Beach. Pretty, colorful tiles. Good steaks. Then it became Gladstone's 4 Fish. Is that still there?

  By  Anonymous, at February 04, 2008 8:39 PM  

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• Gladstones is long gone, it was one or two things after that and I can't even remember what happened to the building. In that same center on the opposite end was Sapori, a great little Italian place.

  By  scottca075, at February 06, 2008 5:56 PM  

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• I recall a restaurant on 17th street in Costa Mesa. It was called "El Pescador. They served the very best king crab legs. Am trying to figure out where it was on 17th. I live very close to there now, and wonder what is in it's place. Anyone know?

  By  Anonymous, at February 09, 2008 9:53 AM  

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• I am trying to find out the name of the restaurant that used to be where Acaculpco Mexican Restaurant on Bristol Street in Costa Mesa is now.

  By  Anonymous, at February 13, 2008 4:41 PM  

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• Here's the one's I remember:
  
  Rene's pizza (on n. main st. santa ana) to this day, never had pizza like that ever again.
  Peking Duck (on tustin ave)best chinese food, originally opened in Lake forest, then moved to Tustin ave, closed in 1986.
  The Villa Taxco on bristol street in santa ana.
  Guillmo's La Fiesta on main st. in santa ana, the best mexican food and known for the special secret soup!

  By  Anonymous, at February 14, 2008 8:10 PM  

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• Anyone remember Pup n Taco on main street in santa ana? They made a hamburger called the Texas Tomato burger, and the taco's were made with spicey ground beef.

  By  Anonymous, at February 14, 2008 8:14 PM  

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• Anyone remember a small french restaurant across from the Art Festival area in Laguna Canyon? It was there in the mid-60's.

  By  Anonymous, at February 17, 2008 4:56 PM  

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• I grew up in Orange, and there were two neighborhood-style Italian restaurants in the mid-'80s that I used to go to that were basically across the street from one another, neither of whose name I can recall. They were just off of Tustin + Walnut, the first being behind Taco Bell -- and in the same center as H. Salt and Baskin Robbins -- in part of the same space that the infamous Tacos Jalisco now occupies. They had a nice meatball and a nice, cozy atmosphere that was good for families, a bite with some buds, or a meal with your girl.
  
  The other restaurant was more of a pizza joint and was across the street on Tustin, next to the great/late Fantasia Video. Good sauce, as i remember, and a few obscure arcade games of the time to complete the draw. Opaque red cups, of course.

  By  Patrick, at February 17, 2008 6:58 PM  

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• Moved to Costa Mesa in 72. Pink's drugstore for phosphates & comics. I was a dishwasher/busboy/host at the Reuben E. Lee...my girlfriend would row me to work from Balboa. Busboy at Reuben's, Janitor/Waiter at Isadore's nightclub next door. My older brother was a bartender/bouncer there. I think the Arches restaurant is still on PCH. I live in Houston now. It's growing like OC but slower. Never forget Naugle's!

  By  Anonymous, at February 27, 2008 8:54 AM  

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• The Arches has moved. Right now there is a fence around the original location on PCH. Looks like it is in pre-demo stage. Very very sad! I always felt like I was in company of Mafioso in that place. Ruben E Lee barge is also gone, completely. Loved Naugle's, great HS lunch escape.

  By  Anonymous, at March 31, 2008 5:39 PM  

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• To the person way up there that asked about the burger place where you could make your own burgers..it was called Fudrucker's.

  By  Anonymous, at April 17, 2008 10:27 AM  

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