There are only two places to dine in Thurber, now a ghost of the former mining town's self. One is the Smokestack Restaurant, named aptly after all that remains of the town's power plant.  The other choice is the restaurant atop New York Hill, across the interstate. If you choose not to eat, the Thurber tour takes hardly any time.

Thurber, Texas
3.4.2016

24/7

 

This Waffle House was next door to my hotel in Morgan City, Louisiana.  I envisioned a night shot with the patrons inside but without cars.  During my waking hours, there was always a car in the lot.  The first Waffle House restaurant opened its doors in an Atlanta suburb in 1955 and has grown to more than 1,500 restaurants.  How come Amarillo has four and Lubbock has none?

 

 

 

Waffle House

Morgan City, Louisiana

10.14.2015

trifecta: Chinese food, pizza and sports bar

 

There are neither fast food nor chain restaurants on San Juan Island -- and only a handful of dining spots.  On my way to the Blue Water Bar & Grill, the sign for the Chinese restaurant next door caught my eye.  Interesting thing, I think the same guy owns both of them! He certainly found a way to parlay his business.

 

China Pearl Restaurant

Friday Harbor, San Juan Island Washington

4.1.2015

parking in rear

 

Alas, the Ding How Chinese Restaurant is no more.  The overgrown parking lot in the rear is a vacant lot.  The large sign first attracted my attention blocks away but when I got closer I noticed it was painted all black-- but you can find some nice images of the original sign on-line.  The building was interesting but peeks through the door revealed a hoarder's paradise.  I wonder if the newer Golden Lotus that went up next door led to Ding How's demise.  The façade neon signs still offer chow mein and chop suey but no chow no more at Ding How.

 



 



 



Ding How Restaurant

2415 East Amarillo Boulevard (Route 66)

Amarillo, Texas

3.13.2015

 



el menu

 

Curious about what's on the menu at Restaurante Los Hermanos?  Just read the wall by the drive-through window! The whole place is painted in the colors of the Mexican flag.

 

Restaurante Los Hermanos

5009 East Amarillo Boulevard

Amarillo, Texas

3.13.2015

 



redundancy

Synonyms for FOOD:  chow, chuck, comestibles, cuisine, eats, feed, fodder, grub, mess,
                                      provender, slop, tucker, vittles

We did not dine at Food Chow City but the name caught my eye while driving by.

Food Chow City
45 East Bridge Street
Oswego, New York
9.28.2014

diversification 2

 

If you are taking a drive to Floydada, don't plan at eating or drinking at this restaurant/private club -- it's closed.  According to some research, Babe was a businessman in town; after buying trucks and trailers here you could go across the street to his tire store for service.  Don't plan on eating at Leonard's Café either  -- it's closed as well. The two places had an interesting connection, according to the Plainview newspaper.  Sorry I missed the gorilla.

 

Babe's Steakhouse and Private Club

Missouri Street

Floydada, Texas

2.1.2014

diversification

 

Running a restaurant in a small town is tough business.  The secret to success must be diversification:

 

1.  Take out orders

2.  Today chile rellenos

3.   Menudo -- rated #1 in the Panhandle

4.  Laundry drop off service

5.  Booth rental spaces

6.  RV park - discount lowest rate in town (includes free meal)

 

Unfortunately, one can't do business if the place is closed at 1:00 pm on a Saturday.

 

El Rancho Restaurant

1109 Ralls Highway

Floydada, Texas