Don't Read This If You Are Hungry
From the 1940's to 1960, where could you get the biggest, juciest and the cheapest burger with fries and a malt, the best pizza with sauce to die for, or truly finger-lickin' good fried chicken? I remember them all, and they were not called McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried or Burger King.
Brick's Malt Shop
As a little girl on North 25th Street, going to the movies at a downtown theater was a special family night which usually included eating out. There was a hamburger joint on about 15th and O Streets called Bricks Malt Shop. They had the best hamburgers, fries, and a thick malt at a low, low price. It is long gone from the scene in downtown Lincoln.
The Mug
On the corner of 33rd and O Streets, there was this two-story high construction made to look like a giant root beer mug. They sold the best root beer!I am not sure what year it disappeared from the scene to make way for a rose garden.
The rest of my special memories of eating establishments cross the bridge of time and still exist today | sort of.
Tastee Inn and Out
It has now been shortened to Tastee Inn; however that was the name of this drive-in in the 1950's. Their specialty was the Tastee sandwich which was ground-up beef with their secret ingredients. Second only to the Tastee sandwich was the Tastee Pup which was a hotdog with a special chili sauce. Their slogan was "Two good meals for less than a dollar." The total was actually 98 cents. In the summer when Dad was working nights at Capitol Beach, Mom, Joe, and I would go out to eat at Tastee before going to the outdoor theater.
Tastee Inn still exists at its original site on 48th and Holdrege. It has remained a part of our places to eat. Cindy, Rob and Jim were all fed Tastees once in awhile. I will still try to get to Tastee Inn when I visit Lincoln. I even got to see one of my great granddaughters (Destiny) try her first Tastee Sandwich. However, the restaurant has changed ownership and the Tastee sandwich is nowhere near the same and the two great meals for less than a dollar is long gone. Now days I have to have both a Tastee AND a Tastee Pup AND the delicious onion chips and dip.
Pizza
My love affair with pizza began when I was about 7 months pregnant with Cindy. It was a hamburger pizza from Castiglianos on North 27th. Following close behind Castiglianos, Valentinos on 35th and Holdrege opened their doors and made a better pizza. Bob had his first taste of pizza when we started dating. My children were raised having Valentinos Pizza.
Valentions exists to this day with the original building plus additions still on 35th and Holdrege as well as other sites in Lincoln and even in other towns. However, like Tastee, the restaurant changed ownership and they have never compared to the original. It is still very good pizza, but far from the same. What was the cost in 1959? A small pizza was 75 cents, medium $1 and large $1.25.
Lee's Chicken
Thinking about Lee's Chicken restaurant brings back our dating years. Located at Codington and Pioneer Blvd., it was a favorite place for us to have a late-night snack after drinking beer. In 1959, besides the inside restaurant, there was also a drive-in with car hops. Their delicious specialty was the fried chicken with its crispy coating that would make Kentucky Fried or Popeyes bush league.
Many family birthdays or other special occasions included a visit to Lee's Chicken. Part of their appeal was the organist who played music throughout the dinner hour. If it was your birthday, you could order a cake. It was brought out with a sparkler lit and Dorothy (the organist) saying, "We would like to wish a Happy Birthday to (your name)" and then playing Happy Birthday. Lee's was expensive for our budget when we were married with children so like I said, Lee's was saved for very special occasions.
Is it still there? Yes, but Bob and I were very disappointed when we stopped to eat there about 5 years ago just for old times sake. The chicken did not compare.
Anyone remember Ken Eddy's and Kings. That will be for another Blog -- called Cruisin'
So now that I have shared some more of my nostalgia, what and where are you going to eat tonight?
