When I was a kid and we used to come back east to visit the fam in NY I remember that my dad always used to take us to two restaurants. I thought these were the coolest restaurants in the world!
The first was a place called The Ground Round and it had to be the greatest place on earth because they used to let you get big baskets of popcorn and peanuts and THROW THE SHELLS ON THE FLOOR. Oh yeah, that was classy!
The second was a little eatery called Friendly’s. Now this was the creme de la creme. Not only did they make a mean grilled cheese with tomato BUT they had an ice cream selection that went on for days, highlighted by my favorite, Black Raspberry. We just didn’t have ice cream like this out west. Sure we had 31 flavors but it was nothing like this!
Now in my head I thought these amazing little eateries only existed in the small sphere around my Grandma’s house. I was floored when I got to college and saw that not only were there Friendly’s all over the eastern seaboard but Ground Round’s as well, and in college while I didn’t find their food as spectacular as I remembered, they did serve a lot of beer…that’ll work!
But now being a recent transplant back to the Northeast I got to take my boys out for their first taste of Friendly’s. To say they loved it is an understatement…check this boy out.
He along with Brady and Keegan gave it a big ol’ thumbs up. Looks like we may be regulars.
Do you have any memories of restaurants you visited as a kid?
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Holy crap!!! You just brought back so many memories with the Ground Round!!! I love it! I’m venturing to NY this week and I might have to hit up Friendly’s…love it!
Oh Friendly’s and the Ground Round!!!!! I think my town was the last to let go of it’s Ground Round and I miss Friendly’s. We don’t have them Below the Mason Dixon Line. But, if you drive on 95, from a distance, Chick-Fil-A signs and Friendly’s signs look almost the same, which has disappointed me to no end depending on which direction I’m headed!
There used to be a Ground Round in a town near us..a couple of them in fact but they have since closed. The sticky floor kinda bothered me…
Friendlys is still ubiquitous and there is one barely a mile from my house…it is still fun to visit and a great place to send the kids for a walk and $5.
We live in NYS and love Friendly’s take the children often for amazing ice cream. There are so many amazing restaurants here. Now we have Tim Hortons which has the most amazing coffee ever. Great photos put that on Friendly’s facebook page!
we had a place by our old house that you threw the peanut shells on the floor. It was kind of bar-ish but the kids could be there and there were games for them to play (foos ball, pool). Sadly, it’s closed now.
As a kid, we had a pizza place called Shakey’s. We went there all the time and then 31 Flavors afterwards. We also had the ultimate place for bday parties called Farrell’s. Ice cream concoctions for days. awww!
That’s one happy little guy. No favourite restaurants but one of our family road trips took us to Quebec and I had the best bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches I have ever eaten.
LisaDay
We love Friendly’s too. The ice cream is the best.
Ha, that boy looks like he’s having the time of his life! I have never been to either.
ROFL! I took my girls to a Friendly’s not so long ago, thinking just about the same thing. I have to say I thought their food sucked lol but we did enjoy dessert! YUMM! Happy WW
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I love the picture!!! lol Very cute!! I’m from the midwest, so there was no Friendly’s or Ground Round…BUT..when I was a kid we use to go to this place called Grandmother’s…it was fantastic! It’s no longer around, but by do I have such fond memories of it. There is also a place called Runza…they serve these dough pockets filled with meats and cheeses….mmmmmmm…they still have them and I try and stop by at least once when I’m visiting my parents! Great…now I’m craving a Runza!!! lol
Looks like he’s totally enjoying that!
I loved Ground Round and thought it was ridiculous that they stopped allowing peanut shells thrown on the floor due to health concerns. Couldn’t we just have signed a waiver or something? It was SO MUCH FUN!
I spent my early years in Massachusetts and we LOVED Friendly’s. When I finally got my husband and kids into one, the kids loved it, but my husband was shocked at their prices.
Now my favorite flashback eatery is a greasy pizza joint in Kentucky, where I went to high school. My family doesn’t understand the attraction, but it’s always a stop for me when we go to Kentucky.
I can’t eat at Friendly’s anymore because my stomach has gotten too old for their food. But yeah, they were great when I was a young adult with little cash. Ground Rounds were the best watering holes around. Peanuts in constant supply and it felt insanely indulgent to toss the shells on the floor.
When I was a kid, we didn’t go to chain places even though Chez Micky Ds and BKs had started to sprout up. We went to the mom and pop joints where 6 kids and 2 grown-ups could eat for cheap and be full.
The messiest ice cream the better it taste. Love the len shot.
My WW link for you
*I* want to have that much fun!!!
Ya gotta love that face! Happy WW! Thanks so much for linkin up.
Great Site! I’m adding your button for sure! Love the pictures!
I want to go there! I remember lots of great places we would go with my grandparents…most of them sadly closed down, but I still have the memories for a lifetime
A Friendly’s opened near us several years ago and I was so excited. It was the first one I had even heard of. We bounced right over and let me tell you – they were NOT Friendly. We went back a couple of times, always hopeful, until they closed not long after. Sad times:(
Someone is very very happy!
I don’t think we have a Friendly’s near us. Makes me want to visit.
Aloha!
Oh no!!! Not friendly at Friendly’s??? That’s terrible. Think of all the ice cream your area is missing out on!
I remember the Ground Round! We had those where I grew up too. A few others I remember are Perkins (in high school we would stay there late into the night drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes; yea I’m cool) and Shakeys Pizza (yay for spicy pizza!).
Don’t you love it! Hey, there was a Ground Round in Iowa when I lived there!
we used to love ground round as a kid. I haven’t taken my kids to friendly’s yet, but a visit is in order after seeing his happy face! too cute!
I’ve never been to Ground Round but Friendly’s is awesome! I love their burgers and the peanut butter cup ice cream is amazing! Yum!!! Oh I miss Friendly’s…
What a cute and messy face. I just gave you a shout out on my blog for awarding me the versatile blogger award. Stop by and check it out.
http://alattewithotta.blogspot.com/2010/07/awards-from-ott.html
Aww, you just transplanted me back to the east coast!!! I too use to go to the Ground Round with my dad and he would order Meatloaf, Everytime we went. I love Friendly’s they had this milk shake called the Fribble. YUM. In the Boston area there is a place called the 99 that my family use to love. Living in the West Coast I so miss the foods of my youth….especially Dunkin Donuts!!! What I would give for an Ice Coffee and Maple Frosted Donut. LOL
OMG Ground Round…now that brings back so many memories! Love this photo – how cute is he!
I’ve never heard of those two restaurants. ??? Grilled cheese with tomato is my weakness. Love it.
Wow – talk about a trip on the way-back machine! Grew up eating at Friendly’s. The Ground Round came a little later but they used to have the best patty melts. Thanks for the memories!!
I’ve never heard of Ground Round…but Friendlys? Oh yes! Grammy’s favorite restaurant. :0)
Love your photo of the little guy! That was some good ice cream!
Thanks for stopping by to see me today!
Candace
I love that chocolate face. I have a similar one of Brad but with chocolate pudding…it was a long time ago but it is still on the fridge! My favorite!
I’ve seen Ground Rounds around these parts, but I’ve never eaten there. Friendly’s is a different story. I have a soft spot for Friendly’s. When my husband and I were dating, we’d always eat there and then finish every meal with a Jim Dandy sundae. (No wonder my girlish figure is a thing of the past!)
Wow, looks like he loved the ice cream. My grandmother used to take us to Friendly’s all the time. We always got the fried clam plate!
Hope you have a great day♥
Such a cute picture!! I remember the 1st time I was given whole milk at a restaurant and I totally gagged. Have been drinking skim milk ever since!