There are probably millions of restaurants in America and millions more from the past decades in the’ 70s we had so many of them that no one knew what to choose from some of them were really good others were terrible and a lot of them were in between so what happened to the really good ones that became terrible well that’s why we’re here today join us as we talk about the 20 worst restaurants from the 70s no one wants to eat at one wags to America’s Family Restaurant Wags there’s one thing that bugs me a lot why

do people call restaurant like these fast food in those days and even decades before that they were called Quick Service restaurants at some point Wags was supposed to be a differenc maker in this sense but it fell off so hard that it must have broken its legs Wags was the brainchild of Walgreens in the 70s this was a time when drug stores experimented with all kinds of ways to get people in the door even if they had to serve bang average food in the process before you get defensive I know a lot of you loved Wags but by the time

it became a full-fledged chain it could no longer keep up with the high standards it set for itself in the beginning Wags was known for being a step up from the average fast food place their sandwiches were legendary remember that juicy roast beef as if that wasn’t enough their breakfast items were served all day long a diner style burger with a side of crispy fries washed down with a milkshake was the ultimate Wags experience it was also the place where late night cravings for pancakes or a club sandwich could be satisfied with

the snap of your fingers this is something most fast food chains today don’t offer it’s no wonder so many folks went Bel istic over Wags yet despite its initial success Wags found itself in a crowded Market by the late ‘ 80s casual dining chains like Denny’s and IHOP offered similar menus while fast food giants like McDonald’s kept raising the bar because it couldn’t keep up with the other sharks in the water Wallgreens decided to pull the plug selling off most Wags locations by 1991 though some still missed the late night Diner Vibes

that set Wags apart let’s not dare forget our next entry which had food so cheap and yummy that it’s a wonder why lost its way at the end two Burger Queen listen I know Burger Queens got great hamburgers queen of burgers was pure royalty until it wasn’t before the newbies make any judgments those who were alive to witness it knew Burger Queen was more than a cheeky knockoff even though it sounds like it this restaurant was truly its own thing Burger Queen was established in 1956 starting in the Louisville Kentucky area

this regional chain aimed to be the southern counterpart to Burger King by the 70s Burger Queen was known for offering more than just Burgers they even had fish sandwiches and fried chicken this made them the Usain Bolt of Quick Service food they were flying away with not one sign of stopping their mascot Queenie be became a friendly face Millions knew very well the burgers at Burger Queen were great but don’t you think it was their Royal treat desserts that really hit the spot whether it was soft serve ice cream dipped in chocolate

or a classic milkshake anyone who knew their way around food flocked to Burger Queen for a sweet treat after a meal dare we forget their sign ature waa Burger it was a direct challenge to the Whopper but in the end Burger queen found itself struggling to stay relevant in 1981 the chain decided to give itself a makeover it changed its name to DRS that was the beginning of the biggest quality decline seen since the flop of the recent Star Wars movies by the late ‘ 80s most DRS locations were either sold off or turned into Dairy Queens so

in a sense the queen was dethroned by the king only to become a more irrelevant Queen let’s thank the heavens that the food at our next location did not become as bad as Burger Queen was towards the end of its Reign three sambos can dine for $1.99 in sambos now till May 11th our dinner special is Sambo’s all beef Cho steak CH initially it seemed like a winning formula a Cozy familyfriendly Diner serving stacks of pancakes at affordable prices so what went wrong sambos began in 1957 with a name that came from a combination Sam

bone and new Bonet it came from Santa Barbara California a state where a lot of highflying restaurants found their Roots by the early ’70s sambos had grown into a Powerhouse with all the horsepower of a Formula 1 car it was breakfast all day every day people came for the pancakes but they stayed because their tummies were stretched to the max sambos was legendary to be honest that’s what makes its downfall so sad that you could shed tears over it that was the standard place for a weekend breakfast with the family where you’d find

towering stacks of Hot Cakes drenched in syrup alongside endless refills of piping hot coffee they also served served Burgers and Fries but no one really cared for that it was the pancakes that brought in the loyal customers or don’t you agree what was your favorite memory about sambos do you ever wonder what went wrong well the trouble started with the name over time as the country became more culturally aware protests began over the racial implications tied to the term which referenced a character from a controversial children’s book by the

late 70s the name of the business became overwhelmingly distasteful it almost became a taboo to eat at sambos the company tried to change its name at some locations but the damage was done by 1982 the chain went bankrupt and most of its restaurants were closed or sold while its name has faded because of a sketchy naming tradition our next entry went kaput because of a sketchy cooking tradition for s’s big Scot big Scot s’s big Scott there was a guy who told a story about working at Sand’s when they ran out of lettuce they

just put a leaf of cabbage on the burgers and nobody noticed so much for the Scottish rival to McDonald’s it was created in 1956 by a group of Illinois based McDonald’s franchises who wanted more autonomy remember their mascot it was a jovial kilt-wearing Scottish lad which gave the brand a playful identity by the 70s sandes had expanded to over 200 locations in the midwest offering an alternative to the golden arches with the 15-cent burger being a popular goto Sand’s was known for its budget friendly menu their fries were legendary they

often outshined their big ger competitors and their signature shakes had a rich creamy texture some remember the chain for its Tartan Decor which added a bit of charm to the restaurant scene as the 70s progressed competition in the fast food market intensified in 1973 sandies merged with Hardies in a bid to survive against the ruthless Giants of the industry the brand was gradually phased out with most locations converted to Hardies by the late ’70s what a shame though they really had some good food in their Prime if only they

could keep up with that pace then maybe more people might be willing to eat their grub today sadly their fate ended just as disastrously as the unfortunate next entry on our list five Burger Chef would like to have your family over for dinner Burger Chef goes all out to please your family does no one else remember the legend that gave us the Happy Meal before McDonald’s could even dream of it from Quick Service restaurants this was one fast food innovator that just couldn’t last Burger Chef began in 1954 and it wasn’t just

another Burger Joint cre in Indianapolis it quickly grew into one of the largest chains in the country by the 70s with over 1,000 locations now that’s dominance right there but where did it all go to we’ll get to that later Burger Chef was one of the first to introduce the concept of the combo meal something we all take for granted today they also pioneered the build your own Burger Bar giving customers the kind of creative control over their meals that folks with dangerous Cravings shouldn’t have the fan favorite was the Super Chef Burger

which was a direct Contender to McDonald donal’s Big Mac it was topped with cheese lettuce and a Tangy sauce their flame broiled burgers were considered a step up from other fast food competitors and they had a unique way of packaging fries and burgers in their iconic orange and blue branding many remember the anticipation of sitting down to customized their burgers at the salad bar which felt like being the first person to walk on the moon at that time their sudden demise came from nowhere the reason no one wants to eat there

again has its roots in a cocktail of over ambitious expansion a sudden spike in competition and a dash of crime when Burger Chef came out with the fun meal they assumed that if McDonald’s would try to follow suit they could be sued what they didn’t expect is losing the lawsuit this put a serious hole in their business another incident that put a dent on them was the kidnapping of their employees which resulted in them losing their lives what really made everyone mad was that the company tried to paint them as robbers before the truth came

out after that things started to go terrible for them in 1982 the chain was sold to Hardies and slowly but surely the Burger Chef named vanished from the landscape by 1996 all the remaining locations were converted which meant Burger Chef was gone forever six beef steak Charlie I’m beef steak Charlie and you’re going to get spoiled with free shrimp six juicy steaks cooked up just like you like them was the star of the show at beef steak Charlie served sizzling and juicy with all the trimmings it was all you can eat and

then some where can you find something like that today not anywhere I know of sure maybe it’s gone for a reason but what made the experience Stand Out was the never-ending sh shrimp cocktail and the overflowing salad bar complete with pasta salads and col SLA beef steak Charlie’s dates back to the early 1900s but it wasn’t until the 70s that the chain became a New York City icon their mission was straightforward deliver hundreds of affordable steak dinners paired with unlimited salad shrimp and wine by the end of the decade beef steak

Charlies had expanded into a full-blown chain across the East Coast luring in customers like a moth to a flame customers could help themselves as much as they wanted every meal was a buffet Fit For A Millionaire are you forgetting the endless beer and wine this was a feature that gave Charlie’s a little more of an upscale Vibe but despite its early success beef steak Charlies couldn’t maintain this magic formula Forever by the mid 80s expensive overhead costs and the sheer volume of food they gave away for free made

profitability Tough by the early ’90s the chain began to fizzle out good riddance to it too because towards the end of its Reign beef steak started taking so many liberties with the quality of its food that many of its regulars were forced to abandon it altogether that sad story is mirrored in so many other restaurant downfalls but probably none more than the next restaurant on our list seven wimpies the 50s and 60s wibe let’s dive into wimpies Diner that has been serving Canadians for the last five decades wimpies may

have gotten its start in the 1930s in Chicago but it wasn’t until the 50s 60s and70s that it truly caught fire well in the figurative sense at least named after Jay Wellington wimpy this chain was soon flipped in patties across the US and UK at the height of its powers wimpies was one of those rare burger joints that tried to class things up a bit imagine getting your burger served on an actual plate with utensils and all that like a real adult meal wimpies had its dedicated fans especially for their Quarter Pounder always paired with

Crispy fries and a milkshake so thick you could build biceps just trying to drink it but here’s the thing isn’t half the fun of fast food being able to eat it with your hands napkins be damned then there was also the famous Bender in a bun which sounds like something order after a long night out it was actually a sausage sandwich topped with onions and ketchup that all sounds great but consistency is where the game is at despite its efforts wimpies couldn’t keep up with the game by the end of the decade most of its Us locations were

toast over in the UK they managed to hold on a little longer but let’s be real when was the last time you saw a wimpies it’s not like you’ll choose wimpies out of something other than Nostalgia but our next entry made such a name for itself that I really feel it can make a solid comeback in today’s world Arthur treaters in a hungry mood and you’re looking for Arthur smile face how can a restaurant be more famous than the actor it’s named after British actor Arthur Treacher this chain kicked off in 1969 with a mission to introduce

Americans to the wonders of deep fried fish and boy did it take off by the mid ’70s Arthur treaches was everywhere with over 800 locations strong it brought a bit of the British Seaside to us Shores At A Time When Burgers Were King of the fast food jungle Arthur Treacher offered a treat for the seafood lovers out there but let’s be honest how many of us really know who Arthur Treacher was people cared more about his fish frying game than his acting you probably loved that iconic crunch of the battered fish fillet made with North Atlantic Cod

fried to Golden Perfection you could practically hear it crackle as it hit the tray and those thick handcut fries were the perfect sibling it was like a mini vacation to the British Seaside minus the seagulls and unpredictable weather of course and who could forget the hush puppies you’ve got to admire the confidence was it necessary to throw in a Savory sweet deep fried ball of dough as a side probably not did we love it sometimes for those looking to break free from Burger monotony Arthur Treacher was the plug for a while but it

does make you wonder in a world dominated by Burgers how long could fried fish and chips really last before the tides turned based on how it went down not that long no one wants to eat there anymore and it leaves us wondering why as for our next entry it’s a bit easier to pinpoint why people run away from it nine stues Stucky started out as a humble pan stand on the side of the road in Georgia back in the 1930s but by some Stroke of Luck in the 70s it had blossomed into a nationwide road trip icon with over 350 stores if you were

cruising down America’s highways in that era chances are you couldn’t avoid a Stucky stop even if you tried it was the place where Travelers refueled grabbed a bite and loaded up on the kind of souvenirs you’d immediately regret buying who doesn’t need a plastic alligator keychain right the charm of stues was in its Co cozy familyfriendly Vibe offering comfort food snacks and most importantly those famous pcan log rolls seriously was it even a road trip if you didn’t stop at Stucky for one of those sugary nut covered marbles the

food wasn’t exactly Michelin star material but you could always count on a hot dog burger or a plate of southern comfort food to get you through the next stretch of highway it was as Dependable as your best friend from middle school the real stars of stues weren’t the burgers it was the snacks pecon pralin and nut candies you’ve got to wonder though how much pecan related food does one family need sadly when corporate Giants rolled in stues couldn’t keep pace so next time you’re cruising down a highway and pulling to a gas station

maybe take a moment to remember the simpler days and speaking about simpler days up next we have a long forgotten but sorely missed restaurant that will surely trigger Treasured Memories 10 Benin benan we need this now now tonight like tonight tonight like Y when you need to escape from the everyday tonight escape to Benin when Benin was in its prime that was where hardworking parents would take you and your siblings for a special treat and looking back now it couldn’t have been easy for them they bent over backward just to give us those

moments but of course as a kid you’re blissfully unaware of the sacrifices your parents are making you’re just there for the mozzarella sticks people loved Benin out of all the casual dining spots like chilies TGI Fridays Applebees Red Robin and Ruby Tuesday Benin was the one you would always choose hands down it had that perfect mix of a lively atmosphere hearty food and if memory serves the best chicken tenders known to humankind sure there are still about 15 Benin left in the US but the one near you probably just isn’t the same as it

was back in its Heyday don’t you agree I mean do places ever really live up to our childhood memory or is it just that Nostalgia makes everything taste better either way benan in the 70s and even ‘ 80s was unbeatable we’re going back to back with the trip to Memory Lane here so let’s take you back to when casual dining was more than just a microwaved burger with our next entry 11 Howard Johnson’s Howard Johnson’s is such a friendly place to have good food Believe It or Not Howard Johnson’s was actually good in the 60s and even into the 70s

and we have none other than jacqu pepan to thank for that yes the jacqu pepan a cooking Legend was once developing recipes for them who knew fast food could have such a sophisticated Sue Chef Howard Johnson’s was practically the McDonald’s of the 70s you could miss that signature orange roof standing like an advert board for Road Trippers Across America with over a thousand locations it was one of the go-to pit stops for anyone hitting the highways imagine the variety fried clams 28 flavors of ice cream and a classic grilled hot dog that

somehow tasted better after hours on the road does it get more luscious than that but like all good things it didn’t last forever mix in some questionable management choices and those famous orange roofs started to Disappear by the early 2000s there was there was only one left standing and in 2017 it closed its doors for good so now Howard Johnson’s is nothing more than a ghost from the distant past but let’s be honest did anything ever taste as good as you remember 12 Lums all Lums burgers are cooked to order all Choice beef maybe

Lums will name one after me say you already have Mr Burl that’s why they’re called hamburgers Lums no one else will give you more Lums started in the early 1950s as a humble hot dog stand in Miami Beach founded by two brothers with Big Dreams and a soft spot for hot dogs and beer by the time the 70s rolled around Lums had grown into a national chain with its own quirky spin on fast food Lums had the upper hand on your average joint because it was one of the first chains bold enough to serve beer alongside its menu

a cold brew with your hot dog now that has to be an upgrade right the menu was a bit of a mixed bag hot dogs burgers and the Pista resistance their famous steamed beer battered buns seriously who knew buns could actually taste that goo Lums hot dogs wrapped in those steamy buns made every bite feel first class hope you’re not forgetting the Lums special this special creation was a hot dog so loaded with toppings it could probably double as a building are you still on team burger after hearing that the vibe they went for was dark wood

paneling a bar in the corner and an atmosphere that felt more like your local pub than a fast food joint while it wasn’t exactly friendly for the kids it still found a way to fall out of favor with the masses up next is a joint that kids of all ages could spend hours inside without feeling out of place 12 the Brown Derby what was the Brown Derby like imagine you’re eating a prime rib and there’s a chance the person at the next table could be a movie star or at least someone playing one how’s that for Ambiance established in 1929 the Brown

Derby picked itself up by the bootstraps until it became the spot to see and be seen in Hollywood I mean when your building is shaped like a derby hat how could you not attract attention the original location on Wilshire Boulevard quickly became the go-to hangout for movie stars producers and anyone who wanted to brush shoulders with the Hollywood Elite by the time the’ 70s rolled around the Brown Derby had expanded to multiple locations even Landing one at Walt Disney World without being too snobby the brown Derby’s menu

was fancy the iconic cob salad is a case in point it was created by the owner Bob Cobb yes that’s his real name you could dive into prime rib fried chicken and other classics all while possibly eavesdropping on some juicy celebrity gossip sounds like a good deal doesn’t it the decor was just as iconic with walls lined with character pies of the famous patrons who DED there all that couldn’t save it from going under but maybe it can at least be proud that its downfall was not as dramatic as the next restaurant on our list 13 Chi-Chi

celebration sampler there’s a dozen ways to celebrate 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Chi’s celebration s which restaurant had the best TexMex in America before it imploded do you really need us to tell you the answer founded in Minneapolis Chi-Chi quickly became the go-to spot for TexMex Cuisine with its vibrant decor and festive atmosphere the restaurant was a celebration of culture and flavors by the late ’70s Chi-Chi expanded rapidly boasting over 200 locations and introduced dishes that would become Staples in the techmech

scene who could forget the signature crispy nachos piled high with melted cheese jalapenos and all the toppings and what about those iconic Chim Changas Chi-Chi’s DEC created an experience invited diners to immerse themselves in the Lively atmosphere with a margarita in hand wouldn’t you feel like you were on a mini vacation the restaurant was also known for its generous portions and Family Style Dining making it the perfect spot for Gatherings but did Chi-Chi keep up some of you must have absolutely love Chi-Chi maybe you were

always ordering Monterey chicken enchiladas but in one off year the Chi-Chi in Pittsburgh got smashed with the hepatitis A outbreak something about contaminated field onions from Mexico no one ever went to Chi-Chi again up next next is a more wholesome story but that doesn’t mean anyone would want to touch that restaurant with a 10-ft pole right now 14 Victoria Station when we say Victoria Station is a cut above that means a lot like our famous prime rib cooked and cut to Perfection all aboard the steakhouse train truth be told the

way Victoria Station got started isn’t exactly the stuff of Legend but the story behind their three generation Legacy of grilling fine steaks now that’s something worth sinking your teeth into back in the day when the British were governing Malaya they were a little too preoccupied to worry about cooking I mean with all the croquet and afternoon tea who had time for the kitchen naturally the task of cooking fell to the butler but even the most dedicated Butler can only juggle so much right so he did what any smart person

would do he hired some kitchen help and let me tell you these folks weren’t just any ordinary kitchen staff they took steak grilling to a whole new level their steaks were more flavorful more aromatic and definitely more appetizing than anything you’d get at the average British dinner table no offense Brits the creator of this restaurant happened to be one of those who truly mastered the art of grilling the perfect steak one day the family was on holiday in England riding the train when someone had this genius idea what if there was a

steakhouse inside a train and well the rest is history or is it after all who wouldn’t want to enjoy a fine steak in a train themed setting but what caused this popular chain to derail by the late 1980s Victoria Station faced financial troubles struggling to keep Pace with changing dining trend and fierce competition from other steakhouses the novelty of the train car experience couldn’t quite mask the operational challenges and one by one locations began to close by the early 1990s most of the restaurants had disappeared from

the map was Victoria Station too much of a high-tech concept did that contribute to its downfall if it did then what can we say about the next restaurant on our list which was supposed to be simple but exciting enough to survive anything 15 Roy Rogers Roy rers did you think we’ll forget about Roy Rogers I used to love the Double R Bar Burger I make my own now but it’s just not the same founded in the late 1960s Roy Rogers was named after the Beloved cowboy actor and singer becoming a staple for families seeking hearty meals with its first

restaurant in Virginia the chain grew quickly boasting over 600 locations by the 70s it combined the excitement of the Wild West with quick dining who wouldn’t want to enjoy a meal at a place that felt like stepping into a cowboy movie the star of the show was undoubtedly the roast beef sandwich served with a variety of fixings but it didn’t stop there the chain also offered fried chicken burgers and their famous fixen bar where diners could load up on toppings and sauces remember the thrill of customizing your sandwich to your

heart’s content and let’s not forget the crispy fries that always seem to disappear too quickly whatever happened must have hit them hard because Roy Rogers plummeted from the heights of dining to the bottom of the barrel speaking about bottom of the barrel let’s talk about a restaurant that knows that too well 16 shon’s Big Boy $5 je Big Boy sure makes a big deal about quality sh’s Big Boy originated in the late 1940s Big Boy its distinctive mascot was a cheerful figure with a double-decker Burger shony was like home

away from home at its peak who needed a kitchen when a shony was right around the corner with its welcoming atmosphere who wouldn’t want to sit down for a meal the menu at shon’s big boy was a buffet of comfort food featuring their signature Big Boy Burger a Ju juicy double decker topped with lettuce tomato and Special Sauce but the real draw was the breakfast offering served all day fluffy pancakes sizzling bacon and omelets that could satisfy even the heartiest appetite can you remember the joy of digging into a plate of those

crispy hash browns perfectly seasoned and golden families flock to shony for its generous portions and all you can eat salad bar making it a go-to for birthdays and graduations while it’s gone now there is still the original Bob’s Big Boy in Pasadena California you can still head there if you want a taste of memory lane but I can assure you their meals are nothing like they were in the past 17 Steak and Ale Prince and P the best of both [Music] world before Steak and Ale the idea of enjoying a filet minan or ribey in a

casual restaurant seemed Out Of Reach for most founded in 1966 by Norman Brinker in Dallas wasn’t just another Steakhouse it was a GameChanger in the casual dining industry Brinker’s Innovation was making quality steak accessible to middle class families but here’s where it gets really interesting Steak and Ale also introduced the first ever salad bar yes that’s right the salad bar we now take for granted at buffets and casual dining restaurants got its start at Steak and Ale or at least that’s what most people say what

hit guests like a giant magnet was the idea of customizing their salads with fresh ingredients and let’s not forget the wood paneled walls dim lighting and the faint Aroma of sizzling steaks that gave the restaurant an English pub vibe offering a dining experience that felt both sophisticated and welcoming now let’s talk about a steakhouse that should have been the king for a long time but ultimately couldn’t keep up 18 Ponderosa Steakhouse atosa established in the early 1960s Ponderosa Steakhouse quickly became a

staple of casual dining particularly in the Midwest and the South by the’ 70s it had expanded significantly boasting over 600 locations at its peak with a western theme that evoked the rugged charm of the American frontier who wouldn’t want to dine in a place that promised A Taste of the Wild West Ponderosa was legendary for its all you can eat steak and Buffet options as kids we ran there sizzling cuts of beef grilled to Perfection and served alongside a wide array of sides think baked potatoes crispy fries and

fresh salads and let’s not forget about the infamous salad bar which was a feast unto itself filled with everything from pasta salad to a mountain of croutons did anyone really leave without indulging in a slice of their decadent dessert let’s not dwell too much on why no one eats there you can take a trip to any Outlet to find out for yourself if you can even find one finally we have a restaurant that could have been as big or even bigger than KFC but Destiny had other plans for it 19 horn and hard art established in Philadelphia in 1888 and

later expanding to New York City horn and hardart was revolutionary in its approach to dining known as the first automated restaurant chain in America it offered a unique experience experience where patrons could serve themselves from glass enclosed food dispensers by the 70s it had become a beloved institution blending the convenience of fast food with the charm of a diner was there anything more exciting than selecting your meal from a colorful array of choices the menu at horn and hard art was a delightful mix of comfort

foods from creamy macaroni and cheese to deliciously baked pies many diners fondly remember the coffee served in shiny metal pots and the signature dishes that brought A Taste of Home Cooking to the busy City streets what’s better than opening your lunch reveal a steaming slice of lasagna or a perfectly cooked meatloaf it was a peak experience but somehow everything started to go wrong with the turn of the century now you’ll only find ghosts and spirits eating there so which of these restaurants can you try for the last

time did you have any favorites in the past let us know what you think in the comments as always be sure to like subbe and share this video with your buddies see you next time