Other Places to Eat
Last week brought a firestorm of mentions about different places to eat in Salisbury around 1960. I only covered the Wicomico Hotel (The Coach Room), the Chantry House and Johnny and Sammys. There were other places to consider if you elected not to eat at home. Bill’s Seafood Inn and the Greenway Inn were two of the more upscale establishments. For a more down-home feel, there were the three English Grills, Howard Johnson Restaurant, Ayers Diner, the Casa-Del-Rey, the Saddle Club or the Charcoal Pit. In 1961, there was only one lunch counter in Salisbury and that was at Read’s – downtown.
There were numerous places to get quick food. The Hut was very popular, as was the Oaks. I think there was more socializing than eating at the Oaks, it being the gathering place for the area’s teenagers. Now forgotten places were listed back then, such as the Kwik Shake Inn and Taylor’s Grill. The drive-ins of the era were George’s Drive-in, the Acorn, the B &K and Shelton’s.
Some of the bars listed themselves among the restaurant opportunities. These were the Circle K, Martini’s and Kelly’s Oyster Bar. Places such as the Stone Bar had edibles on the bar such as hard boiled eggs, but I would hardly call then a restaurant. I remember one time at the Stone Bar that a good crowd had gathered to watch the Kentucky Derby. They had a pool going and you put up a dollar and got one horse to root for. The total pool was only $14.00. The fellow that won was so excited that he uttered those famous words, “I’m buying”. Well, the bar bill was about $18.00 so he actually lost money on his “winner”.
The chronology of the “fast food” hamburger places is up for grabs. At some point in time Burger Chef, Champs and Carroll’s graced our area. It seems that everybody has a different memory of what was where and when. As long as you have your memories, you can relate them to the present and realize that we have lost a very pleasant way of life.
The Oaks and the Saddle Club were my two favorites, the Oaks of course for teenagers was the place to be with friends. It's sad there is no fun safe place for teenagers now to eat and be together. The Saddle Club was the spot my Dad took me to to for our special time we both loved horses and loved the horse decor. I wish someone could re-open both, but alas old memories.
ReplyDeleteThere was a place, I think it was Burger Chef, just north of Benedict's; in the winter of 1970 they ran a special of fifteen cent hamburgers. They were mobbed by all the poor college students gobbling down cheap food. Things have changed because now most students have more disposable income than their parents.
ReplyDeletethanks again for this history. i remember our family going to casa del ray on friday night for spagetti dinner. spagetti w/ meat sauce, salad and bread; adults $1.95 and children under 12 $.95. it was wonderful. again great memories...
ReplyDeleteI'am 65 and remember all those places but would ride with my friends because I nor my parents could afford me a car. But the best burger in town was at the Silver Saddle.
ReplyDeleteOver 4 and a half years later 2:13,where was the Silver Saddle?
ReplyDeleteGeno's
ReplyDeleteOh my.....The Oaks on one end of town and Peggy's Stone Bar on the other....also A&J Drive-in, Little Jimmy's......wow The Hut pepperoni pizza was to die for, haven't found anything that good since and I have tried just about every pizza place in Salisbury!
ReplyDeleteThat should be H & J Drive in.
ReplyDelete"we have lost a very pleasant way of life", truer words were never spoken!
ReplyDeleteI remember Carroll's fifteen cent hamburgers! What a treat!, and the Hut had the best Hut Special Subs of any place on earth!
Thanks for the memories! You always bring a smile to my face.
GOD Bless You.
We spend a lot of time living in the past around here...
ReplyDeleteCasa del Rey was wonderful. A delicious Spaghetti Dinner with salad and garlic bread for $1.99; even got a 'bib'...Loved this place. The entire family could eat here for very little and kids under 6 were free.
ReplyDelete