NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I feel bad for the employees, but to be honest, this was one of the worst chains in the U.S.

I dunno, I liked it. Their asiago chicken pasta was actually really good (and big enough that it did me for lunch the next day). They also had a beef stew sort of thing that I really liked. Not exactly white tablecloth fare, but good if you're on a college student's budget and looking for something a bit more than burgers and fries. Dang. Now I'm hungry.

If your favorite Bennigan's was a franchise, it won't be affected. The Chap. 7 filing covers only corporately owned stores.

Hold on there, Sam! For the moment, at least, franchised Bennigan's operations, like the one in Glen Burnie, continue to be open -- only company-owned locations were shuttered when the company filed for bankruptcy.

The Bennigan's in Glen Burnie is up there for the most pathetic restaurant I've ever been dragged to multiple times for work lunches.

Then again, Glen Burnie isn't much of a culinary paradise.

So, what about the Steak and Ale in Timonium? Is that closing as well?

From the Consumer's Eye blog: Celebrate The Cheesecake Factory's 30th anniversary tomorrow with a return to the dining garden's original prices. On Wednesday, July 30, slices of any of its more than 30 varieties will cost $1.50 for dine-in customers (limit one per customer).

They're also unveiling a new variety: Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, with 25 cents of the cost per slice this year going to benefit America's Second Harvest --- The Nation's Food Bank Network.

Check out more of The Cheesecake Factory history here --- now more than 140 locations nationwide.

I hope the Timonium Steak & Ale is a franchise will survive. Since I hate Outback, losing S&A takes away an option for cheaper steaks, prime rib and the always wonderful Hawaiian Chicken. (Although I just had it in the last fortnight and the portion was smallish and dry, so the signs are not good for survival.)

BTW - Ms Jenny, dig yourself a deep foxhole. The Cheesecake factory may be the most hate restaurant by the Sandbox. We want to be nice, but ...

Mmmmm, Monteeee

I work for a company that manages and tracks gift cards, and I've been following retailers filing for bankruptcy on savvywallet.com. Ponderosa and Bonanza are still accepting Metromedia gift cards. I'm not sure about franchise owned Bennigans's. My advice? Go spend your gift cards, we simply do not know how long they will be accepting them. Don't forget The Sharper Image incident: $25m in unused gift cards.

So, what about the Steak and Ale in Timonium? Is that closing as well?

Apparently so, according to the vapid television news.

Decades ago when I was young and inexperienced I thought of Steak and Ale as a sophisticated, fancy place. I haven't been in one in decades, but I suspect I wouldn't be so impressed nowadays.

"I hope the Timonium Steak & Ale is a franchise will survive. Since I hate Outback, losing S&A takes away an option for cheaper steaks, prime rib and the always wonderful Hawaiian Chicken" - RtSO - agree completely!
We used to have Sir Walter Raleigh (which I felt covered the cheap prime rib category pretty well); and of course all McSteaks (Ponderosa, Sizzler,) etc, and The York Steak House. And, our last little cheap but good steak house - dust in the wind...

HLVoR wrote: "Decades ago when I was young and inexperienced I thought of Steak and Ale as a sophisticated, fancy place. I haven't been in one in decades, but I suspect I wouldn't be so impressed nowadays."

I have extremely wealthy relatives in Georgia and despite the fact that they could eat out anywhere they want (and they do, they have discriminating palates), they are regulars at the local Steak & Ale.

They are from the Midwest, so they have non-assuming roots, but they also know what a steak should taste like. I've never had a bad meal with them at the Steak & Ale, despite being a little mortified at going there (in my mind, it's like the Golden Corral or something). In fact, it's always been pretty good.

The second or third restaurant at which I worked was a Steak & Ale in Wauwatosa, WI. Guess I got out while the getting was good. Their steaks were good. I made a Reuben that actually developed a cult following. But the fact that they let me cook always made me a bit leary of the place.

I like the 50's steak house feel of the S & A. The dark wood and deep red decour is great. What is best is that the atmosphere is just the way the place was. There was no sense of retro kitsch or irony. It was genuine in a way few if any chains are.

Ms Joyce, there's still Michael's on Eastern Avenue for really good, reasonably priced steaks and prime rib. Lousy wine list (unless you like screw top cabs) and I wish the veg and salads were at the same level as the beef. The house made bread can be very good. [Should the family who own and run (one of them always seems to be there) see this please don't be offended. Improving the above items would raise you to something close to Samos class status. Really.]

All this Steak and Ale nostalgia is cracking me up. That is my dad's idea of high-end dining. I'm sure he's crushed over the news.

I went to the one in Timonium two or three times. The first time it was really good, the other times not so much. I agree with RoCK about the decor -- it was horribly kitschy, but not intentionally. If you got them on a good night the food wasn't bad.

Thanks, RtSO, never been there (Michael's) although I've heard pretty much what you said. I've also heard that they have a very good crabcake as well - and (a big seller) they have lots of parking!

Singular Robert wrote We want to be nice, but ... To complete that thought, We Have Standards.

As long as I can get my Bloomin' Frickin' Onion, all the world is right.

My younger son started out his work life at Sizzler's back when they actully received huge slabs of meat and cut their own steaks and worked his way up to head meat cutter before he, as they say, pursued other interests.
When he was saving to buy his first house, he worked part time - some evenings & weekends - at the Timonium Steak & Ale. I'd go when he was working because I knew that my steaks would be cooked exactly how I ordered them. I haven't been there since he stopped working there.

JL - Ya know, I wonder if I was at the Tosa S&A when you were at the grill ...

If so, I'm living proof that your cooking doesn't kill.

Cheers!

I hope I won't be pelted for this, but Longhorn Steak House isn't a bad one. The decor is a bit kitschy but the steaks are quite good.

Fl Rob, I won't pelt you - in fact, I agree.. The 2 times I've been to Longhorns I got a pretty good meal at an excellent price, and the service was good too. I just never seem to remember that they're around or for that matter, Texas Roadhouse (which my son calls Texas Roadkill) either. Out of sight out of mind I guess.

Rob in PCB-

Well if you get pelted, so shall I. I like Longhorn, and it has the honor of being the first place to serve me alcohol legally. (At noon on my 21st birthday 'cause I just couldn't wait for dinner.)

Ah, memories.

JoyceW, I went to a wedding last summer and had a great prime rib dinner. When I later asked who catered the reception dinner, I was surprised to learn it was a local Texas Roadhouse. Who would have thought?

Thanks Joyce and Sloth.
I visited a brand-new Longhorn here last month and enjoyed. I prefer Longhorn over Outback any time.

Piano,
When you were at the Tosa S&A, did you hear a lot of swearing coming from the kitchen? If so, how cool, I've made you lunch in a past life.

jl - I heard more swearing when I worked at restaurants than when I was a teamster!

Timonium Steak & Ale was locked down when I went there on 09/06/08. yes, I still have a useless gift card.