Anybody remember these restaurants? (Cincinnati, Kent: motel, prices, store)

[goyguy]

I've posted at length (what else is new, lol) about the 1969 tornado on my dying thread entitled "Mid-to-Late 20th Century Vine St/Springfield Pike." Thanks, Mikey, for the reminder of what that mustard-yellow metal sculpture at the fairgrounds entrance is. I'd totally forgotten about that. Human-created art like that fetches a bundle!

Shillito's candy counter was a sweet place indeed, play on words realized and fully intended. OMG were those fresh pecan pralines good. I don't think better ones can be found in their "birthplace" of New Orleans. It was also always a treat to chow down on a great big bowl of vegetable barley soup ("extra rye crackers, please") at Pogue's Soup Bar, served by gum-smacking waitresses with sky-high beehive hair. Dessert afterwards at the Ice Cream Bridge was always a butterscotch sundae, mmmmmmm...Now, in the 21st Century, we have big-box department stores the size of airport terminals that completely lack any options for simple good food you can sit down and eat there. Hot dogs at Tar-jay don't count.

The original restaurant atop the Queen's Tower high-rise was called the Sovereign. Their memorable (obviously) ad slogan was, "Be greedy!" Its illustration depicted what was maybe supposed to be a caveman, or brunette Viking lol, clutching a bitten-into fried chicken leg. A couple of years ago, the place was partially renovated and is now an Italian restaurant called Primavista.

Moving across the river, does anybody recollect El Greco? Back in my growing-up times, East Siders only went to Kentucky en route to the airport or Latonia Raceway for the most part. (Another exception would be the Beverly Hills Supper Club, but please let's not "go there," at least in this thread.) They used to have great magazine blurbs for themselves illustrated with cartoons.

Never set foot in Porfidio's Wishing Well, but can clearly picture the "wishing well" with its tinselly "waterfall" on the green exterior wall at the Galbraith/Reading corner. Nowadays not even Burger King can stay in business there. Ditto for Sweeney's, a well-liked seafood restaurant for some years in the 8100 block of Reading Rd which moved in after Meir Ovadia called it quits at his beloved Meir's Place (nee Upper Krust.) The Upper Krust turned untold thousands of goyim on to delicious kosher food. If such a place as heaven exists, one of the meals there has to be an Upper Krust "pastromi" and "korned beef" sandwich served with pickles and washed down with red cream soda. There would also be a Loretta's, from what I've been told by my parents and now-elderly Jewish Cincinnatians.

Shout-out to West Siders: Is it true that Maury's Tiny Cove is shutting down? Say it ain't so! You've already lost Habig's and the Window Garden and recently Rondo's, sheez.

[Mikey1003]

The Sovereign was not on top of Queen's Tower, It was on ground floor you walked right in.

We were talking about El Greco last weekend. The Spanish Restaurant owned by a Jewish couple (Ben and Shirley Bernstein---owners of the B&B River boat restaurant....now being refurbished in dry dock) with their Greek partner (I forgot his name)

I think that El Greco was Bernstein's best restaurant. It was known for it's ceviche

Why not go to Beverly Hills (we were supposed to be there the night of the fire and my wife and I really didn't like John Davidson so we talked our friends into eating elsewhere..then we went to their house and were bull *****ting all night while our parents thought that we burned to death)

I am sorry that I was too young to have gambled at Beverly Hills. Although, years ago we saw a card dealing demo (show) by a guy that was a "mechanic" at Beverly hills and was sent in to relieve high rollers of all of their money. You could ask this guy ( I won't mention his name here) to deal any card and that is what would come next. It was truly amazing. (What makes this story so interesting is that we saw his demo at a Fraternity dinner at the Colony Restaurant in Swifton Shopping Center. Another restaurant that went over the rainbow to be with the rest of the great deceased eateries of Cincy.

What about the White Horse Inn and the Lookout House? Two other NKY eateries that (I believe) burned down. We had many Fraternity Dinner Dances at the Lookout House. (Like Beverly Hills, they brought in big name entertainers)

Then there was Walts Ribs....I never liked them, still don't. To sweet and too wet with the BBQ sauce. I don't like Rib's King for the same reason.

[RedBankGirl]

Originally Posted by pop5300

I used to spend time in Cincinnati years ago as a kid and remember a few of the restaurants. Are any of these restaurants still around?

Magic Wok near I-71

Howard Johnson's near I-71

Did they ever rebuild the Prime and Wine?

I will probably think of a few more later.

I remember all the restaurants. Prime n Wine had a fire. They rebuilt in a different location but the place never made it. Too bad, there has never been a salad bar like it since.
HOJO's is also gone. Magic Wok used to be located next to Pier One Imports. I used to work at Provident Bank back in the day. A tornado went through the two parking lots. Leveled Pier One and really damaged Magic Wok. The wok eventually moved to a much smaller place located in a strip center off of Wooster Pike just outside of Mariemont. Pier One did rebuild.
Sadly Magic Wok is not the same. Geeze, if those walls could talk. The old location is now a party supply store.
There is still a Willies in Kenwood on Montgomery Road across the street from a car dealership as well as the one located just across the river. I was there recently. Just another place to watch the games and have the usual "pub grub" fare!

[goyguy]

[quote=Mikey1003;4344267]The Sovereign was not on top of Queen's Tower, It was on ground floor you walked right in.
[\quote]

I stand corrected, should've caught m'self because I'd eaten there!
My post-graduation party (high school) was to have been at the Beverly Hills on the following Friday. It was set up to keep people from having or attending keg parties, lol, but more of course to prevent fatal car accidents. The entire class was still in a state of shock when we collected our diplomas, needless to say.
I didn't want to divert the subject matter from "remembering restaurants" to "remembering the 2nd worst fire disaster in US history" but whatever happens will happen.

[nana423]

Originally Posted by pop5300

Thank you all for your answers.

The prime and wine was in Kenwood and was owned by Frisch's, it did burn to the ground,

The Howard Johnson's was right near I-71 on Montgomery Road I believe. next door to the Howard Johnson was the Magic Wok, it was in a shopping center I believe. This was back in 1981 and 1982. I would imagine that Howard Johnson is long gone, but possibly the Magic Wok is still there?

I live out of state now, but may drive up there someday just to see what has changed.

Also the revolving restaurant in covington was called "The Riveriew" I have eaten there several times.

Prime & Wine burned down many years ago and the lot remained empty until recently. There's a jewelry store now sitting on the property.

[Hartwell Girl]

Originally Posted by Mikey1003

I remember the tornado, but nothing specific other than standing in the parking lot of Revco at Seymour and Reading while watching it moving behind us. Pretty dumb of us just standing there

They did erect twisted girders at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. The girders were twisted during the tornado and became a statue at the fairgrounds.

That bent piece of metal is still there for people to see..its amazing to see. The Fair is being held from I think July 30th-August 3rd and the statue is at the southwest enterance of the Fair for anyone interested in checking it out in person.

[Exrvi]

Originally Posted by Jim Burke

I grew up in Reading in the mid-sixties but can't place Macintoshes. I now live in Louisville, Tennessee. What area in Cincy did you live in? Jim

Jim,

I see others answered your question about Mc Intoshes.

I lived in Wyoming from 1985-2004. Not surprisingly, since they lived there for all their school years, the kids call that home.

Your post had a hot link to Louisville, OH, but your message said you lived in Lousiville, TN. If Tn is correct, we are virtually neighbors. We've lived in Vonore, TN since leaving Wyoming.

Jeff

[Brenda lykins]

I lived in Winton Place back in the 60"s i just wanted to know if anyone remembers Greeks and if it's still there Brenda

[MiddleCincinnati]

Originally Posted by Brenda lykins

I lived in Winton Place back in the 60"s i just wanted to know if anyone remembers Greeks and if it's still there Brenda

I don't recall a restaurant called Greek's, Brenda, but there was a
Greek place on Winton at North Bend called Rombe's. Rombe's
must have closed in the mid-1980's.

[TonyaAnn]

Jim~ I remember the candy counter at Shilito's! My Aunt Sandy would take me downtown when I was little. I would watch them at the counter. I also remember Morris. Everyday rain or shine. You have brought back sweet memories!

Tonya