The Lexington opened in 1929 just 9 days before the stock market crash. Ouch. I’m not sure what being amigos with South America has to do with anything, but we’re eating in the Hawaiian Room, where the prices are good and the combinations are odd Hawaiian Room Hotel Lexington NYC 1941 #VintageMenus

I wasn’t ready to categorize this as an abomination based solely on the weird title, but I found a picture of the finished product that some intrepid soul baked and I’m calling it: #Abomination #VintageRecipes

If you haven’t seen the #Valentino biopic that’s on later it’s worth recording. I doubt that it’s very accurate, but Nureyev takes his shirt off a lot and the costumes and sets are gorgeous #TCMParty

It’s November 1917 and the Spanish Flu won’t be here for three months, but you’re in the hospital. Hopefully for something not too serious because I don’t really trust 1917 hospitals, but the food actually looks pretty good! Get well soon and enjoy your pudding New York Hospital 1917 #VintageMenus

This menu might be small, but it has historical context. The waitresses here were members of the Waitresses’ Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in Seattle, which limited shifts to 10 hours, as opposed to 12-15. I’m starting with 5¢ pie. Let’s eat! Drake’s Seattle 1910 #VintageMenus

Oh boy, this is a banger! Adventurer Donn Beach founded the American tiki culture in 1934 with this very restaurant in Hollywood. The food looks fantastic, plan on getting a designated driver or cab after enjoying a Zombie or two. Let’s go! 🤙🏼🌸🌺 1/2 Don The Beachcomber Hollywood 1941 #VintageMenus

FYI frustrated Giants fans: the Savannah Bananas are on ESPN now. They’re the best

This is a great example of a coffee shop/fountain from Anywhere, USA where the locals no doubt crowded the counter after a high school football game or a grabbed quick lunch hour sandwich and coffee. I want a 60¢ steak meal, please Powers Coffee Shop Unknown location 1930s #VintageMenus

This is interesting. Wholesale grocery prices from 1903 and 1905, when a can of soup was 9¢ and probably sold for 11¢ retail. Although to the modern mindset these are crazy inexpensive, honestly some of these things seem a bit expensive for the early 1900s #VintageFood #VintageAds

Dolores Restaurant and Drive-In (1930-1974) had a little bit of everything at great prices. The drive-in section was an afterthought, adding stalls to the back of the restaurant to lure in travelers off of Route 66. I want ribs. Let’s go! 1/2 Dolores Restaurant Oklahoma City 1940s #VintageMenus

Two photos. Same room. Same flags. Same astronauts. In one, the President stands with them, smiling, centered, human. In the other, the President sits scowling, rambling, diminished. Four astronauts. Two presidents. And the faces tell you everything.

Opened in 1926 in a massive mansion, the Park Lane was a popular fine dining restaurant for decades. Owner Peter Gust was not shy about naming things after himself, and some of the wording here is making me twitchy, but the food looks great so let’s go! Park Lane Buffalo NY 1950s #VintageMenus

I just love looking at old newspapers, especially the ads. These simple grocery ads from the early 1930s are a window into the lives of everyday people. The average annual blue collar family income would have been $1200-1500, so imagine how far the grocery budget had to stretch. #VintageAds

Built in 1930 as a gathering place for artists and musicians, the Barbizon Plaza was a 38 story, 1400 room Art Deco masterpiece in Midtown Manhattan. These artists won’t be starving with that impressive 85¢ lunch. Let’s go! Barbizon Plaza NYC 1936 #VintageMenus

Let’s all post it and see if they indict all of us.

At one point in the 19th century Huyler’s (1874-1964) was the largest chocolate maker in the US. By 1910 there were 54 locations, and in the 1920s they expanded to include luncheonettes, some of which displayed candy making in the front windows. I’m sold. Let’s go! Huyler’s NYC 1930s #VintageMenus

When I was little a trip to the Hostess bakery thrift store was the best day ever. My favorites were, in no particular order, cherry pie, Sno-Balls and Twinkies. I even liked the banana Twinkies. Getting a name brand Hostess snack in my lunch box felt so fancy 💖 What were your favorites? #VintageAds

Food rationing during WWI was voluntary, with the US Food Administration (led by Herbert Hoover) relying on patriotism and propaganda to conserve meat and wheat for the troops. Here are 2 menus from 1917 in which “meat” just means beef and sometimes pork 1/2 Meatless Mondays 1917 #VintageMenus

It’s 1977 and although home entertainment prices are coming down you’d still have to save up for a new TV set. I had a black and white portable for 10 years until my folks upgraded and gifted me their old console set. What did you have in the 70s? (1977 TV Guide listings included) #VintageAds

I’ve got a two-fer for you today. The Tik Tok (1938-1971) was the first drive-in in Portland, OR, and Portlanders quickly made it a local favorite. I’ve found menus from 1938 and 1957 to compare and contrast the changes over the decades 1/2 Tik Tok Drive-In Portland 1938 #VintageMenus

We hardly ever had frozen foods when I was a kid, but when my dad went to night school once a week to get his master’s degree mom and I had TV dinners and such. We even watched TV during dinner! My favorite was the fried chicken with the lava hot cobbler thing. What’s your favorite? #VintageAds

Opened in 1926, Yaw’s Top Notch served up classic diner fare to generations of hungry Portlanders. I’m a fan of anyplace with homemade pies. That family of spokesburgers really creeps me out. Especially the dad. I’m pretty sure he smokes in the kitchen Yaw’s Portland OR 1961 #VintageMenus

It’s 1965 and you’re settling down in front of your 300 pound television set to see what’s on tonight. Fortunately for you we have the complete TV Guide for the week of October 2-8 so enjoy! share.google/shB3IRUOJBFQ...

If it’s 1973 in Washington DC what better place to have a lovely, non-political lunch in a completely neutral location than the Watergate? The menu can’t settle on a cuisine but everything looks yummy, and for reasons unknown Margaret Hamilton is signing autographs Les Champs DC 1973 #VintageMenus

Is there a reason why everyone running for public office doesn’t have to submit to a background check, including a drug test and polygraph, available for voters to see before casting our ballots? I submitted to all of that for a civilian job with law enforcement My congressperson should too

I’d like to have a word with whoever wrote/okayed this menu. The hillbilly hokum schtick is a bit much, but I’ve never been to a Cracker Barrel so maybe this is the brand? That said, I’m a big fan of biscuits and gravy so yeehaw let’s go 🤠 Cracker Barrel Probably the Holler 1970s-80s #VintageMenus

I used to like watching cooking competitions but they’ve gotten so complicated with stadium sets and high end pantries and equipment. You know what I’d watch? Professional chefs cooking in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment galley kitchen with a 25 year old electric stove with coil burners. 1/2

During Prohibition (1920-1933) folks in Southern California had an easy jaunt south of the border to Tijuana to enjoy all of the alcohol their livers could handle. That said, I don’t understand this booze graph at all but everything was 20¢ so bottoms up 🍸 1/2 Marianna’s Tijuana 1920s ##VintageMenus

The reasons for needing Valuim here are…problematic. The married man is tired of being surrounded by the women and family members who, god forbid, have opinions. Meanwhile, the childless widow has no men or friends in her life except that team of male doctors. And her mom and sister 🤦‍♀️ #VintageAds

Holding a lavish World’s Fair during the depths of the Depression was certainly a choice. The Old Heidelberg Inn was part of the German exhibit (no Nazis allowed!) and doesn’t exactly scream German Food but it looks good so let’s go! 1/2 Old Heidelberg Inn Chicago World’s Fair 1933 #VintageMenus

“Hey Chet, now that the war is over what’s something no one would expect at a Christmas party?” “I dunno…Axis bad guy masks?” “Say no more” #VintageAds #TooSoon

Kudos to @moviessilently.bsky.social for documenting her journey baking the #SausageCake #Abomination challenge. It looks delicious and I wasn’t expecting that. As promised, I made a donation to her charity of choice www.critterswithoutlitters.org (They have Amazon and Chewy wishlists too)

This is better than anything I could have hoped for! I’d definitely taste this. We will have the final evaluation after she’s done not bribing her volunteer taste tester

OMG would you look at that 👀 It looks just like the picture! #SausageCake #Abomination

It’s happening #SausageCake #Abominations

Combine sausage and sugar

Catalina has always fascinated me. I wish I had gone before the ferry got crazy expensive (They get a pass on high food prices because almost everything is shipped in) Anyhoo, this place looks popular with the Hollywood types so let’s mangia! 1/2 Villa D’Amore Catalina Island 1948 #VintageMenus

“Hey, Chet, we need to sell more inner tubes. Give me a visual” “I dunno…a half naked baby in a top hat?” “Say no more” #VintageAds

I just love the graphics here. Located in the beaux-arts Connor Hotel, the Kit Kat was the casual dining option in this fancy schmancy hotel. I do not recommend oysters in Depression era Missouri, but that 50¢ lunch looks fantastic. Let’s eat! Kit Kat Coffee Shop Joplin MO 1932 #VintageMenus

I haven’t done an abomination in a while and this one deserves a gold star ⭐️ It’s a Sausage Cake. Yes, not kidding, a cake with flour and sugar and eggs and raisins and pie spice. In a bundt. I will donate to a favorite charity if there’s a volunteer to make this #Abominations #VintageRecipes

Opened in 1911, the Blossom Heath Inn was one of the fanciest roadhouses in Michigan and was notorious for drinking and gambling during Prohibition. There are definitely back rooms here. These are country club prices so let’s get fancy! Blossom Heath Inn St Claire Shores MI 1930s #VintageMenus

I assume this charming fountain/luncheonette was adjacent to the University of Toledo and boy howdy did they know how to target the student demographic. Great looking food, but look at the last page and the sundae options! I want one of each 🍨 1/2 The College Inn Toledo, OH circa 1940 #VintageMenus

Here you go.....I had to 😆

“I thought it was me as a doctor”

Although this looks like a Herb Alpert album cover from the 1960s, Balconades was a (self-proclaimed) fancy joint in 1940s Pennsylvania. A half gallon of Pabst for a buck is definitely fancy, right? I’m having the $1 T-Bone with some fries and an iced tea Balconades Pittsburgh 1940s #VintageMenus

In the 1920s the makers of Lux soap encouraged people to Twink their clothes. Shut up. It’s a dye. That came in Flesh color. Ewww. #VintageAds

What’s the over/under that he’s calling that enormous hand bruise a stigmata?

Could he weigh in on the Warners-Paramount merger next?

Moscow, Idaho, is one of those little big towns that’s both rural and a college town. The Nobby Inn (1936-1997) served breakfast, lunch and dinner to generations of both townies and students. I’m gonna have the 50¢ rib steak with fries, toast and coffee 1/2 Nobby Inn Moscow ID 1940ish #VintageMenus

I’m not familiar with Kresge five and dime stores, probably because they started turning into Kmarts in 1962. Anyhoo, it’s 1951 and we might as well take advantage of the lunch counter and rest our feet for a bit after a day of shopping. What are you having? Kresge 1951 #VintageMenus