(Photo above: Mancy’s in 1974)
Once again The Blade’s archives have come through in a big way with another advertising-based supplement, this time about restaurants, from the year 1980.
Toledo was a good place to eat out when I was a kid, and it still is. The rumor we always heard was that Toledo had the most restaurants per capita of any city in the U.S. Even the University of Toledo, on their “About Toledo” web page, mentions this rumor. I can’t verify that fact, though I can tell you there’s always someone in every city that says their city holds that title. Eater.com did a take in 2012 that didn’t mention Toledo in their restaurant list, but Toledo ranked fifth when it came to bars per capita.
So Toledo is a good place to eat out…and drink.
This particular section, from May 25, 1980, is about reader’s restaurant favorites. It was entirely written by Mary Alice Powell, the Blade’s long-time food writer and restaurant critic who still tosses a column or two The Blade’s way.
Well, according to the section, guess we should head down Broadway to Frank Unkle’s, which won two awards: Restaurant With The Most Romantic Setting, and Best Restaurant For That Special Evening Out When Price Is No Object.
You could do a lot at Frank Unkle’s: drink champagne aboard the Arawanna II and have all-you-can-eat prime rib when you docked at the restaurant, sit on the balcony and watch the Maumee River, or have a $200 bottle of wine delivered by a sky diver (this happened, on average, three times a week). Prices ranged from $8.50 for liver and onions, chicken and ham steak, to $21.50 for three lobster tails.
I cannot tell exactly when Frank Unkle’s closed, but it was possibly in the late 1990s (this Blade story notes the legendary bar owner Kip Diacou bought the former restaurant and turned it into the Lighthouse Cafe in 1999). Eventually the Toledo Zoo bought the site, at 2605 Broadway, in 2015 and converted the 14,000-square-foot building into their administration offices.
Mancy’s won for Best Steak House. But Mancy’s is not a trip down memory lane; you can still drop by 953 Phillips Ave. and eat. Mancy’s opened at that location in 1921 (then at the end of the streetcar line), but the current building dates from the mid-1970s. The previous Mancy’s was destroyed by
a fire on August 14, 1973 which caused nearly $1 million in damage.
Best Chinese was voted Mark Pi’s China Gate, across from Lasalle’s on Secor Road. All well and good, but for my money Yee’s Garden on Monroe Street (east of Secor, if I recall correctly) was much better. The restaurant, run by Robert and Sue Yee, moved to Monroe and Harvest and closed in 2000 (Robert’s obit).
Dyer’s won for best seafood, no surprise there. In 1980 it was in its prime. Dyer’s started in 1905, and kept its front window lobster tank going as long as it could – 76 years – at its 216 N. Superior location until it closed in 1993 after a slow, steady decline. Here is a fun little link with a 1956 Dyer’s menu, when a lobster dinner, $2.25, could be washed down with a 25-cent bottle of Buckeye Beer. Even in 1980, dinners still averaged $7 to $9. Capt. Billy’s Whizz Bang, on Mellwood at Laskey Rd., finished second.
The Willows, 4844 Monroe St., won for best business lunch. The Willows opened in 1948, according to this ad I stumbled across, but I can’t tell when it closed. There were a number of good roadhouse-type restaurants out that way including Arne Nissan’s Tivoli (long gone, I’m told there’s a Hooters there now), and Krotzer’s Steak House (which was still open on my 21st birthday in 1984 since that’s where we went).
But it is difficult to pinpoint when these places opened, or closed. Some, like 1980 Best Mexican Restaurant Loma Linda’s, and Tony Packo’s (Best Ethnic Restaurant, Other Than Chinese and Mexican) are still open (though, as I have stated elsewhere on this site, Rudy’s Hot Dog rules).
Also, Wendy’s and McDonald’s were named Best For a Quick Meal. Not White Tower? Boooo. They did buy an ad, however, and there are so many great ads in this section – Joey’s Supper Club (closed 1996), 4E Ranch House (closed 2003), Someplace Else, the Sylvania mainstay (where I took my junior prom date), Bassett’s Gourmet Restaurant at Westgate (still operating nearby as a health food store), Holland House (home of the Moronburger), Bud & Luke (Hello Friend), the fabulous Charcoal House (next to Orchard Drugs on Talmadge Rd. north of Sylvania Ave.).
But there’s always that one place that holds a special grip, isn’t there? That place for me is Inky’s, 3945 N. Detroit (at Sylvania Ave.), 419-476-0500 (and while I did go check, I can still type in the address and phone number with certainty even though I haven’t actually lived in Toledo in thirty years). I was bowled over to see stories from The Blade and WTOL about their 60th anniversary in August, 2017. I started going there when I was in the womb, I’m told, and although I’ve never had anything there except pizza, Italian salad and a Molson or two (ok, root beer as a kid), every time I go back Inky’s is a mandatory stop. When I was a kid, it wasn’t a trip to Raceway Park, win or lose (usually lose), without a stop at Inky’s afterwards. I never tasted a pizza anywhere like theirs, and trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of pizza trying to find it.
Note: If you found this article interesting, here is another Blade section, this one from 1985, with lots of restaurant listings and advertisements.
I remember Yee’s from the mid-1950s when I was a little kid. My parents would take my sister and I to Yee’s every Sunday. I recall the the original Yee’s was located in an old wood storefront building on the north side of Monroe Street, east of Auburn and west of the viaduct that crossed Monroe west of Swayne Field. The interior was, to a little kid, dark and and a little mysterious! Bob was a wonderful host and to this day I remember waitresses Vicky and Mary and the scoop of peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce that I always had for dessert!
In regards to Krotzer’s steak house was located where Hooters is now, It was originally Morgan’s bar …the Tivoli restaurant was down monroe just east of talmadge road
Hi!
I’m looking for a photo of Captain Wizzbang with the hammerhead shark hanging outside. It’s a very fond memory for someone special and I’m trying to surprise him. I’ve located a recent photo of it closed down, but no shark.
Any tips would help!
Thanks!
Looking for the hammerhead shark!!! Hey, Rosa – I too am looking for a picture of the restaurant with the shark for a friend… perhaps we are looking for the same guy? Rob Tucker from Toledo.
Hi Denise!
Home sick from work & thought I’d try my crazy search again and saw this! Yes! It’s for Rob! He told me the story over a year ago, and I really wanted to surprise him but all my leads have fallen flat.
That’s so funny that we are both looking!
You would think that someone would have it?!
Anyone know of Links Cafeteria
Heard of Links went out of business long ago
Was looking up another restaurant and saw this. My mom actually went to Devilbiss with Deanna Link . She and her husband opened the 4E restaurant after Links closed. We ate there many a times on Sundays. My mom passed 5 years ago and oddly enough Deannna is buried close by
The Aku Aku Room at the Town House
Funny this was my families place Capt Billy’s whizz bang. Not sure if we have any pictures of the hammerhead shark though but I know he had a really cool rendering from when they did there remodel in the late 70’s early 80’s. Feel free to email me at vir2@aol.com if youd like me to see if they have in the way of old pictures. Love hearing people talking about the old place.
Any idea what happened to Captain Billy ‘s? Are used to work there back in the 70s.
I’m looking for info or photos of a place on Airport Hwy called Original Hot Dog. Anyone?
I think the full name is “Rudy’s Original Hot Dog”. There were a few others in Toledo. Hope this helps.
corner of airport and south building still there but original hotdog no longer in business
My husband and I went there on our first date in 1975. We went annually on our anniversary until they closed. Boo-Hoo. Been married almost 48 years.
I’m trying to remember a nice restaurant that was located on Monroe street and Secor Road. I need the name!
The Embers?
Now Nancy’s Italian
Betsy Ross
Could it be the Granada?
Granada gardens …gas station now
Betsy Ross….Blue roof.
Vagabonds
I worked at Vagabonds on Monroe St! Killed my feet working in heels on the tile floor. Great food!
Betsy Ross sat where the Walgreens is now . A big “A” frame bldg.
Betsy Ross
I was thinking about a fast food pasta place at Byrne and Glendale. I’m guessing early 90’s? The spaghetti to go was in a bucket? Anyone?
Near downtown Sylvaina Holland Sylvaina rd where it turns into main st. Near convent rd by st Joe’s ( in a small strip with plaza. I think it changes to coconuts after that but has been a number of names since
Fizzolies might have been the Italian fast food place ur thinking of
Someplace Else
The Spaghetti shop. Went out of business in the late 90’s. There was also one in Sylvania at Central and McCord. It closed The last one I know of was in Findlay, it closed around 2019.
Spaghetti Shop
What was the resturant at monroe and secor
billyls supper club owened by lyle and larouq
Where was someplace else located?
Finally, one I can answer! 5147 S. Main in Sylvania, in a little shopping center. I gather there’s a Mexican restaurant in that space now.
Where was someplace else located??
Sylvania in a small shopping center. There was an art studio next door. I think it was on Holland/Sylvania.
Near downtown Sylvaina Holland Sylvaina rd where it turns into main st. Near convent rd by st Joe’s ( in a small strip with plaza. I think it changes to coconuts after that but has been a number of names since
Someplace else
Amy one remember a restrauantb on monroe street …..jigs and maggises….something and Maggie’s, not sure of the name, it’s driving me crazy. Lol
Where on Monroe street
Looking for an old picture of McDonalds on Auburn & Monroe in Toledo, OH before they tore it down.
Does anyone remember the name of the restaurant/bar on Monroe Street across from the mall where the car wash is now? You walked into the restaurant but if you went right you walked into the bar that had music and dancing on the weekends. This would have been in the late 70s..
Was it C.J. Barrymore’s? If so one still exists in Michigan and it is amazing and fun of amusement park rides now
Arne NIssen’ s Tivoli
I’m thinking in was O’ Henry’s
it was just before that
Does anyone remember the name of the Italian restaurant/Pizza Pub located at 5131 Heatherdowns, Toledo, Ohio? It’s where Leroy and Margaret’s is now. It was located there in the 1980’s. We’ve exhausted our search.!
Thank You
It was Little Caesars. It was a restaurant with booths , pizza buffet and a jukebox. You could also order off a menu.
I miss that. Little Caesar’s! I have fun memories of that eat in restaurant.
Someplace Else
I used to work at Frank Uncle’s in the early 80s,. My first job as a dishwasher, they went out of business while I was still working there,. Was so much fun working there.
I’m looking for info or photos of a place on Airport Hwy called Original Hot Dog. Late 1970’s. Anyone?
the building is still there hot dog part on one side pool tables on the other side. its now called voitures. some kind of dinner club , havent seen anyone there in a while
2232 airport hwy . voiture is name on building now some kind of food place that serves breakfast one day a month . some kind of breakfast club , you can find a picture of building on lucas county aries website by entering address
Toledo was at one time the leader of restaurants per capita in the USA – Back in those days I was in the food services industry. Toledo had a great demographic for new and old chains to test market new themes, concepts and menu items
Remember Miller’s Family Restaurant on south Reynolds?
in front of old toysrus buliding mowed over to bulid toysrus that also no longer open had very good cheese burgers and old family style dinners
Fazoli’s
Don’t forget the Bungalow on z airport Hwy, owned by the Haddad’s
i do in front of old toy r us , great hamburgers
Granada gardens. Known for seafood. 60s and 70s.
Does anyone remember the name of the Oriental restaurant on Reynolds by the RCR bowling alley? Thanks
I can’t believe you toledo residents can’t remember Johnny’s 30 ounce powerhouse steak. If you could eat the whole steak it was free.
Looking for the name and picture of the deli sandwich spot on Bancroft and Franklin. Toledo Ohio. It had a fence on the outside of the building.
Singles deli they had a satilight store on central neaf Douglas!
What was the restaurant in the front of the parking lot for Rinks Bargain City on South Detroit? Like a Western theme place.
Found myself thinking about a chinese resturant I went to in the 80’s when I worked at Color Haven on Secor.
It was Yee’s Garden. I remember Bettingers Greenhouse close by too.
I remember working at The Willow’s and Cafe Milano. I believe they both went out of business decades ago.