Not many Ponderosa's are left. the one in West county on Machester Road in Ballwin/Ellisville closed several years ago.

I only know of the one in Bridgeton, but all the others that I remember all closed down (Olivette and Ellisville).

I'm fairly certain I haven't been to a Ponderosa since I was 10 years old (about 20 years).



I always saw that place there on Hampton but honestly turned my nose up at it.

Guess no one wants a crappy steak anymore.

DeBaliviere wrote:Guess no one wants a crappy steak anymore.

When I wants me a good steak I go to the Ponderosa.

I would place a sizeable monetary wager that the majority of steaks served at any given Ponderosa are ordered well done.

We occasionally go to the Ponderosa I believe on the Rock Road for lunch sometimes. So thankfully, I just found out that Ponderosa is a pretty decent, cheap buffet. So I'm glad to see it closed

There is still one open in Eureka... my daughter's first job was there & she was disgusted by the amount of huge people who smoked heavily mostly leaving Six Flags that would stop there. Luckily she was a hostess in the foyer and didn't have to be constantly reminded of how gross overeaters are....she has no tolerance now of hugely fat people...she has seen them in action!! Can't really blame her.

^ Oh, there's no shortage of obese hoosiers, that's for sure.

This place was the eating disorder hall of fame. Even the lettuce was fattening.

JuiceInDogtown wrote:Oh, there's no shortage of obese hoosiers, that's for sure.

They'll just wind up at the Applebee's at Kingshighway and Chippewa Street instead. I know, it ain't no buffet, but those options are dwindling anyway, just like Murder, She Wrote viewers and the supply of gently pre-owned Plymouths. I try to avoid the place like the proverbial plague, but a couple of weeks ago, my son won a free kid's meal there for good behavior at school (way to go 314 Jr., too bad the prize was dinner at Crapplebee's). And I literally lost my appetite when I saw 'obese hoosiers' around me shoveling in whatever thrice-fried garbage (What? You've got something against clam chowder and shredded Velveeta on your deep-fried quesadillas?) Applebee's is peddling these days.



I honestly think Ronald Reagan was still our president when I last set foot inside a Ponderosa. And the more I think about it, I wasn't quite sure that the chain was still in business until I saw this thread. That said, I certainly don't like to see any business go under, even if it's not my cup of tea (or plate of overdone mystery meat).

ThreeOneFour wrote:

JuiceInDogtown wrote:Oh, there's no shortage of obese hoosiers, that's for sure.

They'll just wind up at the Applebee's at Kingshighway and Chippewa Street instead. I know, it ain't no buffet, but those options are dwindling anyway, just like Murder, She Wrote viewers and the supply of gently pre-owned Plymouths. I try to avoid the place like the proverbial plague, but a couple of weeks ago, my son won a free kid's meal there for good behavior at school (way to go 314 Jr., too bad the prize was dinner at Crapplebee's). And I literally lost my appetite when I saw 'obese hoosiers' around me shoveling in whatever thrice-fried garbage (What? You've got something against clam chowder and shredded Velveeta on your deep-fried quesadillas?) Applebee's is peddling these days.



I honestly think Ronald Reagan was still our president when I last set foot inside a Ponderosa. And the more I think about it, I wasn't quite sure that the chain was still in business until I saw this thread. That said, I certainly don't like to see any business go under, even if it's not my cup of tea (or plate of overdone mystery meat).

You should see how loud and ghetto the Crapplebees in Richmond Heights gets on a Friday night. We never, ever go to chain sit-downs any more, but decided since we were kind of broke and going out with friends we'd take advantage of the $20 appetizer and 2 entree special. Yep, I said ghetto, and yep, the patrons were black. What made them ghetto, however, was how when we walked in 2 women were cursing and yelling at each other across the Applebee's bar, until one of them came over. I waited for a fight, it never happened. Then when we sat, a woman came up to our table and started feeling the other girl's hair saiyng she like'd it, then proceeds to give everyone "twinkle finger" high fives, then does it underhanded and says "This is what I call the scrotum wave!" Obviously a drunken idiot. I don't think I have ever had a louder meal anywhere, ever.



And yeah, obese hoosiers are everywhere, but I'd say more commonly found at buffets and "5 star restaurants" like Applebee's and TGI Fridays. I'm so sorry I burned over $20 at Applebee's on Friday. I ate at a chain and paid for it. But cleansed my palate at Crown Candy on Sunday.

I can remember going to that Ponderosa as a kid. It has been there forever. However, the real reason it closed was obvious, if you've eaten there in recent years. I ate there about a year ago and never went back. It was absolutely disgusting. The place was so nasty, I wrote a scathing note and put it in the comment box. There was food all over the floor and tables, that nobody seemed to feel like cleaning. The dessert bar was just plain nasty. Stuff all over, mixed together, crusty toppings and ice cream on the floor. Don't get me started on the bathroom. It was so nasty, I felt like I need a space suit to go in. Water on the floor, towels everywhere, unknown crusty substances in the sink and all over the mirror. The buffet was out of everything. If it was there, it had been sitting there forever, building a thin, hard layer on the top (gravy etc.) Just plain nasty!! It just seemed like the workers knew it was going to close, so they just quit working hard and caring. Hopefully a quality restaurant will go in to replace it. I would hate to see a vacant building there forever. I think a Sweet Tomato would do well there.

JuiceInDogtown wrote:You should see how loud and ghetto the Crapplebees in Richmond Heights gets on a Friday night. We never, ever go to chain sit-downs any more, but decided since we were kind of broke and going out with friends we'd take advantage of the $20 appetizer and 2 entree special. Yep, I said ghetto, and yep, the patrons were black. What made them ghetto, however, was how when we walked in 2 women were cursing and yelling at each other across the Applebee's bar, until one of them came over. I waited for a fight, it never happened. Then when we sat, a woman came up to our table and started feeling the other girl's hair saiyng she like'd it, then proceeds to give everyone "twinkle finger" high fives, then does it underhanded and says "This is what I call the scrotum wave!" Obviously a drunken idiot. I don't think I have ever had a louder meal anywhere, ever.



And yeah, obese hoosiers are everywhere, but I'd say more commonly found at buffets and "5 star restaurants" like Applebee's and TGI Fridays. I'm so sorry I burned over $20 at Applebee's on Friday. I ate at a chain and paid for it. But cleansed my palate at Crown Candy on Sunday.

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that may have been a pre- or post-Esquire crowd. Race really doesn't matter here- I simply won't go to the Esquire anymore because I actually like to see a movie whenever I go to the trouble of going to a movie theater- imagine that. For the record, I won't go to Ronnie's in South County on a weekend night for the same reason. So I'm not too surprised that the Applebee's on Clayton Road is a hole despite the presence of nice establishments nearby.



Chains have their time and place. I just happen to think Applebee's is one of the worst, and I gave up on Ponderosa a long time ago. We strive to choose local options first, and that's what we do most of the time. but I'm not going to pretend to be a chain snob when I think there are perfectly viable options at times, especially when you have children. As innov8ion said in another thread, I appreciate diversity of choice. I just choose to avoid buffets, many fast food (but not all fast food, of course) options, and the bulk of the Applebee's/Friday's doppelgangers.

I noticed the for sale sign is gone on the old Ponderosa. Anyone know who bought it or if the sign is gone for some other reason? I heard a rumor that Quik-Trip was eyeing the site. I don't think a QT fits into the landscape there. I'd like another restaurant or a pub. I also noticed a few months ago that the Indian restaurant on Hampton and Fyler went under. I am shocked that didn't happen years ago. I never saw that place busy.

Taste of India is closed?? That's terrible news! I loved its Pizza Hut charm.

Seriously, though, now the South Side is without an Indian restaurant. I've always been surprised at the dearth of Indian dining options in this town.

A gas station is interested, though I am blanking on the brand. I think Scott, the new alderman was opposed, but the site will soon be in the 23rd Ward instead of the 24th, and Vacarrro likely won't have the same concerns. I know some of the neighboring property owners were not excited by the idea.

Yep, its going to be another gas station, on Hampton. It will have a car wash, and sell a full selection of packaged liquors. This was worked out via Waterhouse. I knew early on it wasn't going to stay in the Ward, so I left it alone. They had some neighborhood meetings and basically got consent, although I think it boiled down to no single serving beers and no drug paraphernalia. C'est la vie.

SO

I suppose it would be tough fighting this one; I don't think any residential abuts the site, and it's already an ugly commercial strip.

Finally remembered. UGas.

Now open.