The Jolly Troll – Photo courtesy of George House 5. “Pied Piper was more of an after bar closing time place, where you got steak and eggs for a reasonable price and could sit and drink coffee with your friends until the sun came up,” remembers Kathy Jorgensen Church. (A 1976 newspaper ad touted a 95 cent all-you-can eat midnight pancake feed.) Brian Steinke adds that the Pied Piper was one of his mother’s favorite places to eat, but that she avoided it on Fridays because the fish fry attracted so may patrons. Between the 1970s and 1990s, the Pied Piper lured hordes of diners with inexpensive comfort food. This pancake house stood at 1527 South Hastings Way, roughly where a McDonald’s is today. Dooley’s Pub now stands in its place at the corner of Water Street and Fifth Avenue. It was such an eclectic, homey place.” Sadly, the Cam was destroyed by fire in 2001. Gloria Hochstein of Eau Claire fondly remembers “salads with ‘fixings,’ back rooms for meetings, glorious cheese curds, noisy wooden floors, mementos from Eau Claire history, and so much more.” Emily Rockwell recalls going there to eat as a child: “I remember the amazing decor – big wooden bars in the front and back, tons of old neon signs and unique posters, (and) checkered tablecloths. (Before that, the establishment was owned by Peter Giammona and was called Pete’s Fifth Avenue Bar.) Cozy, friendly, and decorated with historic artifacts (including church chandeliers and a courthouse balcony), the Camaraderie was a classic, Cheers-like tavern. The “Cam,” as it was lovingly known by several generations of Eau Clairians – notably UW-Eau Claire students and staffers – was opened by Meriland “Pearly” and Mary Lee Johnson and Joe and Mary Giammona in 1971. The White House closed after a fire in 2001. “Austin’s White House was a special place to go for a special date, celebration, or a great steak,” writes former Eau Claire resident Rod Bauer of Birchwood. Befitting its name, Austin’s had a reputation as one of the classiest joints in town. His daughter, Kaija Johnson, says her mother, Mildred, served as the bookkeeper, and the family owned the restaurant until selling it to Dave and Lily Fischer in 1987. Austin's/Fischer's White HouseĪustin Johnson and Eddie Meyers started this restaurant – dubbed “Eau Claire’s original steak house” – in 1941, and Johnson took over sole ownership of what became known as Austin’s White House (above) in 1946. You were not rushed to make room for the next table of people.” No wonder one of Stafne’s advertising slogans was “Where Dining is a Pleasure.” 2. “It was quiet, (and) you could actually have a conversation with your dinner partner(s). “It was quality, not mass production,” wrote Kathy Jorgensen Church. A top destination beginning in the 1950s and beyond, Stafne’s was known for top-notch prime rib and excellent service – both common themes on this list. Hastings Way, is the most-missed restaurant in the Chippewa Valley. If you believe our online survey, Stafne’s Sunset Inn, 2211 S. Get your napkins (or maybe handkerchiefs?) ready, because here, in order, are the most-mentioned retired restaurants, along with a few memories of each.
It wasn’t exactly a scientific poll, but the 500 comments (and counting!) gave us a good look at which places Chippewa Valley diners, as a whole, miss the most.
In the days (and weeks) that followed, more than 300 people chipped in to reminisce about the eateries – supper clubs, buffets, cafés, taverns, pizza joints, sandwich shops, and more – that they most miss. We were blown away by the response to a post in which we asked group members about their favorite gone-but-not-forgotten local restaurants. With the help of the nearly 8,000 followers of the You Know You Are From Eau Claire When … Facebook group, we compiled the list below. They helped hone our palates and gave us indelible memories of time spent dining out with family and friends. Austin’s White House - Photo courtesy of Donna BezansonĮau Claire's long-gone restaurants – the ones we knew and loved – were critical to forming the eatery landscape we enjoy today.