My grandparents owned The Jolly Knight. The street that the restaurant once stood is named: Ansell Court (after my grandparents).I don't recall ever going there, but from what I understand it was an old English themed restaurant. Anyone else go there?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Jolly Knight Restaurant, Garden Grove
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Anonymous says his grandparents owned The Jolly Knight restaurant, which used to be in Garden Grove...
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24 comments:
Yes! It was one of my parents favorite places and and took us with them sometimes. It was so very dark inside it took a while for your eyes to adjust, and they had red candles on the tables, and there was a piano bar. Very 50s style adult type place, steaks and martinis.
Another favorite of theirs was Sargenti's. It was another low lit restaurant bar. They had a large fish tank with a piranha in it that scared but excited me. I remember pretending to be an adult drinking my Shirley Temples while my mom drank Brandy Alexanders.
Wasn't it called Jolly Roger? Or was that a different place? I remember the lit up pirate on top of the building!!
The Jolly Knight, If I remember right was on Garden Grove Blvd and Dale.
I remember the Jolly Knight well. In the 60's my parents would take my sister and I there often. My dad was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Rotary Club and he had meetings there and many business associates would be hanging out. My sister and I would always have Shirley Temples and fish and chips (wonderful)-- my parent generally steak. Complementary crudites before every meal, my father dragging his green onion through the salt. The piano bar, yes and numerous scotches and martinis for the parents, who inevitably ended up in a fight.. that's a whole other story, but I remember I loved the dark place, the suit of armor, everyone knew each other. Thanks for the memory!
My sister had a wedding reception there back in the early 80s. They had a double decker Bus out front.
My family owned the restaurant. It is truely missed. For the annoymous post regarding he thinks that his/her grandparents owned the restaurant, The Ansels were my Auntie and Uncle. The Matrie D' was my father David Searle. The family empire was truely a place never to be forgotten
My parents loved The Jolly Knight, and although there was a Jolly Roger, the Jolly Knight WAS a whole different ball game. As another person posted, I, too felt it was too dark. As a child in the mid '50s, I'd have rather been at A & W! But fortunately, my parents had great taste (no pun) and exposed us to great experiences, including wonderful gourmet restaurants like The Jolly Knight and other events. My husband and I were there shortly before it closed. As for its location, I remember it being a little further west of Dale on GG Blvd. Anyone? CJG
I always thought it was on the end of Newland, on Garden Grove Blvd. I only went there once in the 80's, but my parents went there as often as they could. They loved it!
My first girlfriend Kris Kossen used to work there. I still eat there when I'm in town for the NAMM show.
I worked there in the lat 70's. The Ansels and David were all very nice people. It was a great place.
Oh by the way.... there was a blonde cocktail waitress that worked there when needed in 1976 that was married to the Ansells son. Maybe this is the mother of the "Grandchild" in the message above. Ask your father David - he knew everyone.
I remember the Jolly Knight very well. My husband owned a business just down the street and we often went there for lunch. The hostess knew us by first name. Her name was Helen. The Ansells were there often also.
I worked at the Jolly Knight from 1969 to mid 1970. I learned how to open a bottle of champagne there. The first experience was terrible. Even though I covered the cork with a napkin like I had been taught the cork still flew across the room. Luckily it did not put out any ones eye like I feared but did leave a dent on the wall.
The Ansels were nice people. Mr Ansel always told us "leave them a little hungry so they will want to come back" in his british accent. I am sure neither Mr or Mrs Ansel ate much as they were very thin. David Searle was the restaurant manager and the Ansels nephew. I remember Helen too. She managed us like a military unit.
I worked there in 74-75. One of my favorite places I ever worked. Boy could I ever tell you the stories. I moved to Texas in 76 and have often wondered what ever happened to Helen, David and Mr & Mrs. A. and Tony. Are they still alive? Randy V.
Where do I start?!?! I knew the Ansells from the late '50s until the '70s. I understand that Eddie and Lil's son Tony(who my friends and I knew as Robin) passed away several years ago. I have no idea, and would like to know whatever happened to Eddie and Lil, and their nephew Dave (who came from England to help in the family's restaurant.) Eddie Ansell--what a great guy! When I was a teenager, I spent a good deal of time at their home, and Eddie and Lil treated me like one of the family. I was allowed to use any of his cars when I needed one. I earned money working for them, doing anything they needed done. I would chauffer Eddie around to his many clients of the bar supply company that he owned at the time. I also delivered bar supplies to many popular restaurants and bars throughout the Long Beach and San Pedro area. As far as the Jolly Knight, there were so many comical incidents that happened, and I still laugh about them today. One was: I had never had lobster tail, and did not know how to eat it. We were seated with a large group of people, and Eddie Ansell encouraged me to "just pick it up and eat it like a piece of chicken." When I did, Eddie loudly stated "look at how that guy is eating his lobster tail!" Of course, the entire table laughed at me, but I enjoyed being the butt of his joke. Another time, I took my fiancee to dinner there. Eddie was sitting across the table from her. He kicked off his shoe and started rubbing her leg with his foot! My fiancee just looked at me like "what is going on!?!?" Eddie was such a likeable guy, and a great practical joker. One evening he needed help bussing the tables and suggested I give it a try. I went around and cleared tables, using the flimsy trays that the waitresses had no trouble handling. As I headed to the kitchen, holding a loaded tray with both hands, the kitchen door suddenly swung open towards me, knocking the tray out of my hands and sending the dishes loudly crashing to the floor. All I heard was Eddie Ansell loudly asking "Who was that?! Was that Ed?!?!"(my name is Ed also). I never volunteered to bus tables again--nor would Eddie allow me to work in the restaurant again! The Jolly Knight had the best steaks and lobster--I would say that they started the combination known as "surf & turf." Their Roquefort dressing was out of this world, also the relish trays on every table. Myself and another friend, Roger, helped in the design of many of the decorations in the restaurant and banquet room. We made shields out of plywood and covered with red velvet that we purchased at May Co. in Lakewood. Attached to the shields were swords and other memorabilia that Eddie and Lil collected in Europe. I would love to know what has happened to Robin's family, including Dave Searles, who I understand has moved to Florida. I noticed a post from "demogirl" who said she was a grand daughter of Eddie and Lil. If anyone knows how I could get in touch with any of the family, please email me at donnaed@yahoo.com.
I worked at the Jolly Knight in 1974 and 1975 as a busboy. I have nothing but great memories of the place, and it also set the standard for fine dining in my restaurant career. I remember the Ansells, Clive, Helen, and David Searle. I remember that David drove a blue Cadillac El Dorado, which was very cool when you are 17 years old. I remeber their famous English Trifle, and of course, many of the waitresses. The Restaurant was perfectly themed, and well run. I also have fond memories of the piano bar in the middle of the Restaurant. I remember the Tudor dining room, andthe Windsor dining room. There was a bartender there who always had the greatest attitude...no matter what was going on in his life he would say that everything was fan-tas-tic. I learned a lot from everyone at the Jolly Knight. NicolasT@AOL.com
Thank you for all your sharing all your lovely memories of The Jolly Knight! I will pass this on to my father, David Searle. He will be tickled. Again, please keep the memories coming! The Searle Family
I found this page while looking up "Jolly Knight piano bar". I purchased an estate of an Oregon restauranteer and among the papers is a brochure "after dinner sing along at the Jolly Knight piano bar" it a booklet with the lyrics to 70 songs. It shows the restaurant to be located at 8666 Garden Grove Blvd.
Brad Taylor Salem OR
My ex husband and I used to frequent the Jolly Knight weekly. David would always pick out a special bottle of wine. My children grew up going out to dinner there....
Loved the place, wish it were still there, instead of what is there. Anyone know of any place like it in Orange county??
One of my dad's favorites! We ate there often. I see someone asked about the cocktail waitress: Helen? I remember her vividly except I thought her name was Carol. The suit of armor as you walked in, the red 'leather' booths, awesome. This is one of the OC restaurants that my parents took me to where I learned dining is not just eating, it was an experience to be savored. Man o'man they were nice to me there too. Of course they loved my parents, so I came w/the deal. I will always be glad to have grown up w/these kind of places instead of their corporate copies that exist today.
There was also a seafood restaurant on Harbor, just down from Belisle's where I had my first "LIVE MAINE LOBSTER" for 9th grade graduation. It was across from White Front, I think...
Anonymous says his grandparents owned The Jolly Knight restaurant, which used to be in Garden Grove...
It should say: Anonymous says that HER grandparents owned The Jolly Knight restaurant, which used to be in Garden Grove... :) (Since I am one of the granddaughters)
I worked at the Jolly Knight for 3 years from 1972 thru 1975 I was the Salad Girl and my brother was Clive. Luv the place and Food as i worked in the Kitchen with Don the chef also made the Cappacino mix for the drinks. Enjoyed working for all the Waitresses and Busboys. Also worked with Don and Pete the bartenders, Mr and Mrs A, David and Helen....wonderful place to work...i still have the last pic that was taken of all the crew before they shut the place down....miss everyone..so many memories of the Jolly Knight and you got to know the customers that came in every week including the Guys that came to the Bar. Will give credit to the gentleman that played on the piano...excellent player. Could go on and write a book.....of all the wonderful memories...
My great-grandparents owned it. They were truely lovely people when I knew them, but I was a young age so I don't remember much.
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