Anybody remember these restaurants? (Montgomery, Northgate: dinner, grocery stores, quality)

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by charisse8

I remeber Annette's and prime and Wine and a resturant on Motgomery Rd that started with a G in Silverton...it was a nice place located behid the fire station...I remeber itianette Pizza, Tom amd marty's meats and the fireman's festival in Silverton.

You are talking about Grafton's. It was a nice place with good food. I had relatives who moved out of Cincinnati and everytime they came back to visit Grafton's was at the top of their list of must visit places. My wife and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner there 50 years ago. Really miss the place.

[kjbrill]

I just remembered that for years it was called Grafton's Hop Off Inn which opened in 1930. A truely memorable place in Silverton. It was close by, but not behind the fire department, since its main entrance was off of Montgomery Rd.

I also remember when the Sixty Second Shops opened a restaurant just to the east of them, also with an entrance off of Montgomery Rd. It was a real contrast, a Frisch's Big Boy clone versus an honest to goodness sit down dinner restaurant. Grafton's finally bit the dust, but it was a long fight. My family patronized them until the last day. As I stated earlier, my wife and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner at Grafton's. This year it will be 50. So you do not get more fonder memories than that.

[Ohiogirl81]

All the blue hairs on the east side went into mourning when Grafton's closed! LOL That's the kind of place I enjoy going to -- always makes me feel younger.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

All the blue hairs on the east side went into mourning when Grafton's closed! LOL That's the kind of place I enjoy going to -- always makes me feel younger.

Call it a blue hair patronage if you like. I just remember it as a place where the patrons kept coming back, maybe because they perceived something called value. Again, I lament its passing.

[goyguy]

One of the successors to Grafton's in the "elder" patronage department is definitely The Grand Finale in Glendale. Countless Goyguy family events have centered around meals there, including - matter of fact - the wedding rehearsal dinner of one of the siblings in 1987. All generations love the desserts, pretty much every entree, the atmosphere, the friendly service, you name it. But for whatever reason the age of the patrons (regardless of time of day) seems to average somewhere north of 65. After thirty-six years in business I doubt the owners much care about what demographic they appeal to.

Sorrento's on Reading Rd also seems to exist off the loyalty of folks who've been eating there (and singing along at the piano bar) since the Korean Conflict if not before. The management there also apparently could not care less that Generations X, Y, and whatever are staying away in droves.

It's easy to get complacent and assume that "institutions" like these will always be there. How soon we forget not only Grafton's, but also The Window Garden...Shuller's Wigwam...

[Ohiogirl81]

I'm sure all the older folks in Mariemont (the ones remaining, anyway, that haven't been chased out by redevelopment near the square) are still mourning the demise of the Village Kitchen. When it was still located on the square, there would be quite a traffic tie-up on Wooster Pike between 4:30 and 5 when all the elderly gentlemen would pull up to the curb, let their wives off at the door, and then go park their cars.

[kjbrill]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I'm sure all the older folks in Mariemont (the ones remaining, anyway, that haven't been chased out by redevelopment near the square) are still mourning the demise of the Village Kitchen. When it was still located on the square, there would be quite a traffic tie-up on Wooster Pike between 4:30 and 5 when all the elderly gentlemen would pull up to the curb, let their wives off at the door, and then go park their cars.

I think they have moved to the National Exemplar at the Mariemont Inn. The last time I was there on a weekend it was definitely a blue hair crowd so I fit right in.

And the Wigwam. I remember my cousin had his wedding reception there. Table fountains filled with champagne and surrounded by mounds of shrimp, scallops, crab legs, cheeses of all sorts, finger foods like salami rolled around cream cheese, Spanish olives stuffed with almonds and anchovies, all kinds of pickles and peppers, plus an open bar. It was an afternoon reception, held in the downstairs party room. By the time it was over I think everyone was reasonably stuffed from just nibbling and perhaps a little inebriated. A great time in my memory.

[Chemistry_Guy]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

I'm sure all the older folks in Mariemont (the ones remaining, anyway, that haven't been chased out by redevelopment near the square) are still mourning the demise of the Village Kitchen. When it was still located on the square, there would be quite a traffic tie-up on Wooster Pike between 4:30 and 5 when all the elderly gentlemen would pull up to the curb, let their wives off at the door, and then go park their cars.

When I was a little kid in Madisonville my grandmother would take one of her grandchildren to the Village Kitchen for dinner every Friday and then have us over to spend the night. At the time, there were only a half dozen of us (27 now) so we got to go relatively often. I remember feeling very out of place because I was often the youngest patron by over a half century, although I did like the very buttery grilled cheese. I had no idea at the time but looking back I realize that she did this so our parents could have a night for themselves. As a side note, my grandmother worked next door at the Villager (we called it the dime store) for over twenty five years after my grandfather died (well into her 80s). I think she realized it was time to retire when the Village Kitchen moved out.

[kjbrill]

Some restaurants go through a number of lives. One which comes to mind is Carlo & Johnny in Montgomery operated by Jeff Ruby. I remember it from a much earlier incarnation over 50 years ago when it was the Fox & Crow, and the wife and I had our wedding reception there. It was a Saturday afternoon reception and we had to be out before the normal dinner crowd started. But it was a good time and then we adjourned to my parents house where the real party started.

[t45209]

Originally Posted by goyguy

One of the successors to Grafton's in the "elder" patronage department is definitely The Grand Finale in Glendale. Countless Goyguy family events have centered around meals there, including - matter of fact - the wedding rehearsal dinner of one of the siblings in 1987. All generations love the desserts, pretty much every entree, the atmosphere, the friendly service, you name it. But for whatever reason the age of the patrons (regardless of time of day) seems to average somewhere north of 65. After thirty-six years in business I doubt the owners much care about what demographic they appeal to.

Sorrento's on Reading Rd also seems to exist off the loyalty of folks who've been eating there (and singing along at the piano bar) since the Korean Conflict if not before. The management there also apparently could not care less that Generations X, Y, and whatever are staying away in droves.

It's easy to get complacent and assume that "institutions" like these will always be there. How soon we forget not only Grafton's, but also The Window Garden...Shuller's Wigwam...

I've been a little bit concerned about Grand Finale. It seems to have passed its prime. 15 or 20 years ago, it was hard to get a table in there. Now they have big signs advertising meal specials and you can actually park in the parking lot instead of a quarter mile down on Sharon Rd.