Restaurant chains that no longer exist

Cuba NY too. Great cheese is made there, down by Olean. My grandfather always had some.

www.cubacheese.com

 

I'm from eastern Iowa. I have no idea if Mr. Steak was a chain, and this was when I was an even-more clueless BWIP, back in the late 1970s, but it sounds like the same place you describe. Nothing even remotely high class, but OK atmosphere, OK food and lots of it. I believe you went through a cafeteria-style line where you order your steak/entrée at the start, then go through the line and pick your salad, side dishes, desserts and drinks, and by the time you get to the end of the line, your steak is waiting for you.

For an 8-year-old me, it was pretty cool.

 

I'll see your Mr. Steak and raise you a Mr. Burger.
My Lord, their Cherry Limeades.

 

I remember a couple of Gino's in New Jersey.

 

Sorry to bump an old topic but there are two chains I remember from my days in Minnesota. One is Embers. They had a few locations around Minnesota(and one in La Crosse WI) and was always a good place. The other one I remember was Old Country Buffet. I ate at the one in St Cloud MN and also in Burnsville MN and they were always good. Don't see many of those anymore.