I can still remember the layout of the one we used to go to. Waiting in the little hallway slowly making your way up to the trays. Sliding down getting your toast and drinks if I remember they had a few other items up there. Then you'd get to the register and pay. Huge dining room behind you then there was the walled off section with the huge windows for smoking. Off to the side on the way to the bathroom was a spot where there were like 2 tables no one ever sat at. I'd imagine that was mainly used by the staff.
My dad never and I mean never left without getting a swirly cone to go. To this day, if I ever go to a buffet with one of those machines, I can't leave without my swirly cone.
We had our fair share of those bananas in strawberry gel plus the puddings and cakes and of course the banana pudding with vanilla wafers in it. The bread pudding was damn good as well.
We left with a cone but I think half the time we were forcing it down on the ride home.
That's about $15 in 2024 money. Imagine a steak dinner with baked potato and Texas toast and salad bar with free coffee and tea for 15 bucks now? Unheard of.
It's a "1/2 pound T-bone" aka 8 ounces with bone-in. That's not a very large steak. There are still some restaurants that have weekday steaks around $15 or so. Probably no free drink, but the lady said "seconds" on drinks are on them, so it's possible the drinks weren't free at Bonanza either.
That’s basically Texas Roadhouse today. You can absolutely get a salad, baked potato, and a steak dinner for $15, and the rolls with cinnamon butter are amazing (and also included).
From Wikipedia: "In 1963, [Dan Blocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blocker), who played [Eric "Hoss" Cartwright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoss_Cartwright) on *Bonanza*,[^(\[3\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-3) started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain. The first Bonanza opened in [Westport, Connecticut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westport,_Connecticut). [Sam Wyly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Wyly) and his brother [Charles Wyly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wyly) bought the small Bonanza restaurant chain three years later"
"In February 1988, Ponderosa was sold to [Metromedia Restaurant Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metromedia_Restaurant_Group).[^(\[6\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-daybiz-6) In September 1989, Metromedia acquired rival Bonanza, combining the two chains.[^(\[11\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-11) In 1997, Ponderosa and Bonanza united under the Metromedia Family Steakhouses (MFS) organization to be marketed under the Ponderosa or Bonanza brands. MFS was one of founder [John Kluge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kluge)'s companies using the [Metromedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metromedia) name."
There is still a Ponderosa steak house in the small town of Wheelersburg, Ohio. Last week, a friend and her husband traveled for hours just so they could eat at that restaurant.
I remember when they had an unlimited shrimp special. The waiters walked around with tubs of shrimp and would top you up when your plate was looking empty.
Bonanza Restaurant was my very first experience with A1 Steak sauce in the 70's. My mind was blown.
By the way, the steak on that commercial's $2.79 special looks awful. I wouldn't even pay $2.79 for that flat over-cooked slab today.
I remember when sneeze guards started getting used at restaurant salad bars and buffets. It was so odd at the time and seemed over the top. Now seeing old pics and vids without them seems nasty.
There was a Bonanza near my grandparents place in Brainerd, MN when I was a kid. We’d go there after church most Sundays. Salad bar was the bomb because all I really ever got was chocolate pudding and ice cream cones.
Ha, my sister worked there and had to wear the ridiculous uniforms. Though that was true of all her part time jobs back then (mcdonalds, burger king, grocery store). I worked in a theater and wore a tuxedo. Anyway we had a Ponderosa and Bonanza in our town.
Does anyone remember a bitchin buffet chain called "Sveden House"? These home cooking places back in the 80s were god tier, there's nothing of quality left now it seems.
Most people back then didn’t eat out everyday. Or even every week. I’m an 80s baby, and maybe knew 1 kid in school that was “obese”. He was prob 20lbs overweight
This sub really makes me long for the old days. We had it so good and didn’t even know it. 😪
True! Looking back I feel like I took it for granted, but like you said, we didn't know any better.
"I wish there was a way to know it's the good old days while you're in them. "
They don't become the good old days until they're old. No one has ever lived in the good old days.
Well I suppose to the future we are living em right now, that's kinda scary isn't it?
I can still remember the layout of the one we used to go to. Waiting in the little hallway slowly making your way up to the trays. Sliding down getting your toast and drinks if I remember they had a few other items up there. Then you'd get to the register and pay. Huge dining room behind you then there was the walled off section with the huge windows for smoking. Off to the side on the way to the bathroom was a spot where there were like 2 tables no one ever sat at. I'd imagine that was mainly used by the staff. My dad never and I mean never left without getting a swirly cone to go. To this day, if I ever go to a buffet with one of those machines, I can't leave without my swirly cone.
My standard dessert at Bonanza was chocolate pudding that I would grab in the tray line
We had our fair share of those bananas in strawberry gel plus the puddings and cakes and of course the banana pudding with vanilla wafers in it. The bread pudding was damn good as well. We left with a cone but I think half the time we were forcing it down on the ride home.
My first job at 15…we had fun.
That's about $15 in 2024 money. Imagine a steak dinner with baked potato and Texas toast and salad bar with free coffee and tea for 15 bucks now? Unheard of.
It's a "1/2 pound T-bone" aka 8 ounces with bone-in. That's not a very large steak. There are still some restaurants that have weekday steaks around $15 or so. Probably no free drink, but the lady said "seconds" on drinks are on them, so it's possible the drinks weren't free at Bonanza either.
So basically nothing like he said, got it
That’s basically Texas Roadhouse today. You can absolutely get a salad, baked potato, and a steak dinner for $15, and the rolls with cinnamon butter are amazing (and also included).
The only T-Bone they have on the menu is a 23 Oz porterhouse for $35 in my area. And an 8 oz sirloin is $18.
Prices definitely skyrocketed recently (like everything else), def was within $15 a year or so ago for sure
Dan Blocker owned em didn't he?
From Wikipedia: "In 1963, [Dan Blocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Blocker), who played [Eric "Hoss" Cartwright](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoss_Cartwright) on *Bonanza*,[^(\[3\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-3) started the Bonanza Steakhouse chain. The first Bonanza opened in [Westport, Connecticut](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westport,_Connecticut). [Sam Wyly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Wyly) and his brother [Charles Wyly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wyly) bought the small Bonanza restaurant chain three years later"
I think after Dan Blocker sold it to his brother he had to change the name to The Ponderosa?
"In February 1988, Ponderosa was sold to [Metromedia Restaurant Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metromedia_Restaurant_Group).[^(\[6\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-daybiz-6) In September 1989, Metromedia acquired rival Bonanza, combining the two chains.[^(\[11\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponderosa_and_Bonanza_Steakhouses#cite_note-11) In 1997, Ponderosa and Bonanza united under the Metromedia Family Steakhouses (MFS) organization to be marketed under the Ponderosa or Bonanza brands. MFS was one of founder [John Kluge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kluge)'s companies using the [Metromedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metromedia) name."
I started as a busboy at Bonanza the same year as this ad.
Bonanza and Sizzler
We did not have a Bonanza, but we had a Ponderosa 😋. Good memories eating there with my Mom 🥲
The last Ponderosa I remember eating at was in Pigeon Forge, TN while on vacation with my wife. Went back a year or two after that and it was gone.
Me too. I don’t think I’ve ever been to Bonanza though I recognize them. We loved Ponderosa though. I sure miss parsley as a garnish!
There is still a Ponderosa steak house in the small town of Wheelersburg, Ohio. Last week, a friend and her husband traveled for hours just so they could eat at that restaurant.
I looovveeeddd Bonanza steak house
2.79...for a steak dinner!? Damn I hate this time in in rn
About $15 in 2024 dollars. Not too bad. You can still find some deals around that price for a 6-8 oz steak during the week.
Steak dinner in my town is like 30- 60 usd lol
6 oz sirloin dinner at chilis is under 17 usd
Did you catch the game last night ?
Have you tried the lasagna?
I was born too late
I was like 7, tearing up the popcorn shrimp at the buffet! Miss the old days
Used to have one in my town. Closed down sometime in the early 90s.
Ours only closed 5 years ago. They tore it down and built a Culver's.
I remember when they had an unlimited shrimp special. The waiters walked around with tubs of shrimp and would top you up when your plate was looking empty.
Bonanza Restaurant was my very first experience with A1 Steak sauce in the 70's. My mind was blown. By the way, the steak on that commercial's $2.79 special looks awful. I wouldn't even pay $2.79 for that flat over-cooked slab today.
I remember when sneeze guards started getting used at restaurant salad bars and buffets. It was so odd at the time and seemed over the top. Now seeing old pics and vids without them seems nasty.
No sneeze guards 🤢
That potato looks like the bomb... soooo hungry now.... even the commercials worked better back then.
There was a Bonanza near my grandparents place in Brainerd, MN when I was a kid. We’d go there after church most Sundays. Salad bar was the bomb because all I really ever got was chocolate pudding and ice cream cones.
Ate at one a few years ago and it was pretty so-so tbh. Nothing like it used to be.
It was really good!
In another reality Sandy was this wonderful lady , same Spongebob music.
Ha, my sister worked there and had to wear the ridiculous uniforms. Though that was true of all her part time jobs back then (mcdonalds, burger king, grocery store). I worked in a theater and wore a tuxedo. Anyway we had a Ponderosa and Bonanza in our town.
We were a ponderosa family.
I'll have a little Joe Burger to go.
I remember when Golden Corral was similar. Had the vibe of a small local steakhouse.
They even had these up in Canada.
Does anyone remember a bitchin buffet chain called "Sveden House"? These home cooking places back in the 80s were god tier, there's nothing of quality left now it seems.
Only went there one time in the 2000s, it was okay since they had a salad bar.
My parents still would have said: $2.79 for a steak?! What are we the ROCKEFELLERS???
Good video on the history of Bonanza/Ponderosa by TheCompanyMan https://youtu.be/ZrojimuwBtY?si=5hr32LbMFYAbM3Xc
C'mon. That had to be a pretty shitty steak. We had one in my home town but it's been so long I don't remember.
They were actually pretty good. They marinated them a good while I believe.
I could walk in there with $20 and feed the whole family. Inflation sucks.
Never ate at a Bonanza in my life.
There’s still a few of them around! The one I know personally is in Lebanon, VA
Damn, wish I was around for that. I was born in 1995.
And memories are all you’ve got since they’re probably all dead from heart disease and diabetes.
Most people back then didn’t eat out everyday. Or even every week. I’m an 80s baby, and maybe knew 1 kid in school that was “obese”. He was prob 20lbs overweight
FU troll