GMG.com Places to eat and drink in Denton -- 2013 version

[Ibleedgreen]

Oh... And Zeke's next to Crumley Hall.

[ragpicker]

Years ago there was BBQ a place right on campus called the Chat and Chew. It was small, had sawdust on the floor and only served sandwiches. I miss little places like that.

[ragpicker]

There was a barbecue place on University called the Hickory House, but no one remembers that but me.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Would that be the Charcoal-Broiler?

YES! Thanks for that KRAM1! It has been driving me even craz'ier" trying to think of that places name.

My (then) girl friend from TWU and I loved their char-broiled hamburgers and hated it when they tore it down!

Remember "John's Place" off Unversity Drive, too? It was a Sonic-like drive in. They had the best darn O'rings I'd ever had until

Long John Silvers recently came out with theirs....of course, with my new diet I can no longer enjoy good

fried foods!

GMG!

GMG!

[GrandGreen]

There was a barbecue place on University called the Hickory House, but no one remembers that but me.

The Hickory House I remember only served chicken fried steaks. They were good and cheap.

[JesseMartin]

One thing I really miss from Texas and cannot get elsewhere is Chicken Fried Steak. I hope to get back to campus this fall. Any recommendations? I know they used to be great at Ranchman's.

I put it on one of my posts but I think Loophole's are very good...that is, if they're the same as last time I had it. Freshly breaded, fried just enough to be done but still flaky and not burned and crumbly like a lot of places do it. So bad for you, I only eat that stuff once in a while but it's awesome. Ever had a CFS sandwich? Grilled Texas toast, nice big fried patty, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and you dip in in the gravy (or get the gravy on it, but that's really messy).

[letsgiveacheer]

There was a barbecue place on University called the Hickory House, but no one remembers that but me.

I do remember the Hickory House having the best BBQ in Denton at the time. I also remember there was a chicken place very close by that was pretty good. They gave you a free jalapeno with every order!

But being from Virginia, what would I know about Texas BBQ? Here, we use pork and vinegar sauce.

[letsgiveacheer]

I put it on one of my posts but I think Loophole's are very good...that is, if they're the same as last time I had it. Freshly breaded, fried just enough to be done but still flaky and not burned and crumbly like a lot of places do it. So bad for you, I only eat that stuff once in a while but it's awesome. Ever had a CFS sandwich? Grilled Texas toast, nice big fried patty, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and you dip in in the gravy (or get the gravy on it, but that's really messy).

Thanks for the tips. It's hard to beat battered and fried meat in any form.

[Censored by Laurie]

Food -

NY Sub was the staple of my college diet...probably averaged 5-7 sandwiches a week from them. I preferred the Avenue C location, but when the name-change took place the University location stayed with New York Subway rather than Sub-Hub I gave them more of my business...then my last year in Denton I was shacked up with some ol broad who lived at the apartment complex with the golf course (forget the name) so the 288 location got a bit more of my patronage, but their sandwiches weren't as good.

I also ate a good deal of Hooya...but I did work there for 3+ years. I thought Guapo's fajitas were tasty...never had anything else from them. I haven't seen Greenhouse mentioned...they were nothing exceptional, but you could always get a solid meal from them. Sweetwater, Mr. Chopsticks, Loophole and Japango rounded out my go-to's.

The best food Denton has ever had though was Salt Water...it was a seafood restaurant that occupied the small space off Mulberry that Hannah's had before they moved to their current location. Not sure how long it actually stayed open, but I ate there 3 or 4 times, including my graduation dinner, and always had delicious meals.

Drink -

Lou's was undoubtedly my favorite college bar...with Riprocks a close second and Cool Beans getting my Sunday business for movie-night on the roof, but let's be honest, we all knew the weekly specials at any place on Fry by heart and we'd all at least stop by which ever place was cheapest...or which ever spot had the friends working bar who were willing to feed the comp tab a bit for you. By the end of my time in Denton I had about a half-dozen bartender friends from whom I could order a round of beers and shots at the start of the night, leave a $20 and then drink basically for free the rest of the night...an arrangement I would re-pay when I worked at JR Pocket's which became the un-official starting point for many of my friends before a night out on Fry or the Square.

Rubber Gloves holds a special place in my heart...I had a house on Wood Street back behind the police station and I could easily walk/bike to RGs for big beers and loud music. Dan's is the best music venue...Hailey's was great when it first opened with it's wall-o-beer, but I went by I think 2 years ago and there were only 6 or 8 working taps.

On my most recent trip I went by Oak Street and Paschal and was really happy they weren't around when I was in school or I probably wouldn't have graduated.

Coffee -

Karma Cafe was the smokiest room I have ever been to, but I loved that place...and there was a stretch during my sophomore year where I had far greater lady-success from Karma than I did the bars. I also used to live right above the original Jupiter House...24 hour good coffee and free wi-fi to my apartment.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Censored by Laurie

[glick1980]

One thing I really miss from Texas and cannot get elsewhere is Chicken Fried Steak. I hope to get back to campus this fall. Any recommendations? I know they used to be great at Ranchman's.

I think the Old West Cafe has the best Chicken Fried Steak in the world. I even get the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs when I go there for breakfast.

[oldguystudent]

Has anyone mentioned breakfast tacos from Casa Galavez?

Yeah, I did on an earlier page. Joe's a great guy. I love giving my business when I find myself in Denton in the morning. (Which unfortunately is exceptionally rare these days)

Last time I saw him was about two months ago. I think he said he's been there 27 years. He outlasted the entire strip mall, and the new developer has been going out of his way to keep Joe in business while they renovate the center.

[ragpicker]

Does anybody-ANYBODY-remember Pender's Drug Store somewhere around Terrill Hall that sold music supplies and old fashioned fountain drinks? The place was like a time capsule from the forties. Then again, maybe I just dreamed it.

[ragpicker]

Last entry on restaurants. Is there anyone out there who remembers a short lived (and justly so) steak house on University named after a celebrity and former North Texas student?

[letsgiveacheer]

Does anybody-ANYBODY-remember Pender's Drug Store somewhere around Terrill Hall that sold music supplies and old fashioned fountain drinks? The place was like a time capsule from the forties. Then again, maybe I just dreamed it.

Good memory!

No, you're not dreaming! Harold Gore bought a little store that sold a lot of everything, a smaller version of Voertmans but it was sheet music that he really promoted. I forgot the name of the street this was located but it was annexed by the university and an academic building is there now. Anyway, Penders moved near the square and dropped everything but sheet music. Under the direction of Harold's son, they are one of the largest music distributors and publishers in the country...still in Denton among several other locations.

Pender's

[UNT 90 Grad]

Last entry on restaurants. Is there anyone out there who remembers a short lived (and justly so) steak house on University named after a celebrity and former North Texas student?

Roy O's Roadhouse? Boone's Bonanza? You got me. I give up.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Good memory!

No, you're not dreaming! Harold Gore bought a little store that sold a lot of everything, a smaller version of Voertmans but it was sheet music that he really promoted. I forgot the name of the street this was located but it was annexed by the university and an academic building is there now. Anyway, Penders moved near the square and dropped everything but sheet music. Under the direction of Harold's son, they are one of the largest music distributors and publishers in the country...still in Denton among several other locations.

Pender's

Probably being way too sensitive about this but I thought I was reading a Denton Chamber of Commerce promo piece (unless they changed it dramatically); you know, where the Denton C of C seems to go into over-time in trying not to mention much about UNT (and even TWU's) huge roles in "Little D" and because of both schools which obviously create many Denton-based jobs. (With a combined enrollment of nearly 50,000 might that make some sense)?

Hey now....wait a minute! The Pender's "Company History" page didn't mention UNT one time--not even the school that most likely inspired them to add even more jazz sheet music to their repertoire. As much as things seem to change...sometimes things don't change at all.

GMG!

Edited June 19, 2013 by PlummMeanGreen

[letsgiveacheer]

Probably being way too sensitive about this but I thought I was reading a Denton Chamber of Commerce promo piece (unless they changed it dramatically); you know, where the Denton C of C seems to go into over-time in trying not to mention much about UNT (and even TWU's) huge roles in "Little D" and because of both schools which obviously create many Denton-based jobs. (With a combined enrollment of nearly 50,000 might that make some sense)?

Hey now....wait a minute! The Pender's "Company History" page didn't mention UNT one time--not even the school that most likely inspired them to add even more jazz sheet music to their repertoire. As much as things seem to change...sometimes things don't change at all.

GMG!

Hi Plumm, Obviously I can't speak to that but do know that Pender's does quite a bit for UNT in terms of financial support. They also hire many UNT grads of course. I forget the son's name that runs Pender's now but he was some years behind me and used to hang out at North Texas while still a student at Denton High School. I don't know if he attended North Texas or not.

[ragpicker]

Good memory!

No, you're not dreaming! Harold Gore bought a little store that sold a lot of everything, a smaller version of Voertmans but it was sheet music that he really promoted. I forgot the name of the street this was located but it was annexed by the university and an academic building is there now. Anyway, Penders moved near the square and dropped everything but sheet music. Under the direction of Harold's son, they are one of the largest music distributors and publishers in the country...still in Denton among several other locations.

Pender's

Thanks, Letsgiveacheer. It was such a neat place to take a girl for an afternoon Coke and pretend that you were one of the few who knew about the place.

[ragpicker]

Roy O's Roadhouse? Boone's Bonanza? You got me. I give up.

Very nice try UNT 90 Grad. Actually it was called Pat Boone's. He had been a KA here and was also on an afternoon variety show on Channel 5. If you recall he was at the opening of Apogee.

[oldguystudent]

Very nice try UNT 90 Grad. Actually it was called Pat Boone's. He had been a KA here and was also on an afternoon variety show on Channel 5. If you recall he was at the opening of Apogee.

Was it a metal themed restaurant?

Edit: FLICKR Link

Edited June 19, 2013 by oldguystudent

[JesseMartin]

Too much sexiness for this thread...

[PlummMeanGreen]

Was it a metal themed restaurant?

Edit: FLICKR Link

Sure glad our fellow alum Pat Boone was never in his Denton restaurant's kitchen doing rope tricks while his diners were eagerly a-waitin' the, uh, catch-of-the-day?

I know, I know, I know.....I will go to the hot place for posting this YouTube of our great, fellow alum (and true pioneer of Rock and Roll along with UNT'er, Roy Orbison) in a most embarrassing moment for Pat which I think he handled quite well truth be told

It is sort of a funny TV moment, though.

Edited June 19, 2013 by PlummMeanGreen

[ragpicker]

Actually, that leather outfit reminds me of the steaks at that restaurant. They were awfully tough.

[meangreendork]

As a lot of people are saying, it's the concept of the store being there rather than the sign itself, and frankly the sign redo still looks horrid.

A Subway there just doesn't make sense - partially because it's a very corporate chain in an area of smaller shops, and even if it was down near Mellow Mushroom and the other chains, it wouldn't make sense there either because by comparison, Subway is horrifically boring. Oh and yes, the redo on the sign is terrible and feels even less genuine than it did before. It went from "we're a boring chain" to "we're a boring chain AND we're trying to fool you into thinking we're not, but we're not doing a good job of it."

[Censored by Laurie]

A Subway there just doesn't make sense - partially because it's a very corporate chain in an area of smaller shops, and even if it was down near Mellow Mushroom and the other chains, it wouldn't make sense there either because by comparison, Subway is horrifically boring. Oh and yes, the redo on the sign is terrible and feels even less genuine than it did before. It went from "we're a boring chain" to "we're a boring chain AND we're trying to fool you into thinking we're not, but we're not doing a good job of it."

There's no way anyone is going there, right? If rent is as high in that spot as has been reported, hopefully this is just a 2 or 3 month mar on the Square and they pack up shop soon.