All Bennigan's locations closed this morning. Read the story here.
Tell us: Where you a Bennigan's fan? Do you have any favorite memories associated with the chain?
Comments
Posted by anonomys @ 12:48 PM Tue, Jul 29, 2008
i work(ed) at a metromedia restaurant. That place was my family and my heart dropped to go up there and see my hopes of this all being a practical joke from a co-worker to be wrong.
1987: our first date was to Bennigan's in Addison and the movie "Dirty Dancing." Our twentieth anniversary is tomorrow, and I guess we won't be able to go to celebrate. It's very sad.
My sister and I are American Airline employee's and we went to the Bennigan's today on East Hwy. 183 in Irving, TX only to find it was closed! They always honored AA employee's and gave us a discount on our food. We will truly miss having a resturant like it Bennigan's close to our work.
i loved the chicken salad that was served in a sliced pineapple ande
the dark wheat buns sprinkled with brown sugar ... but this has been off the menu for many years ... good bye bennigan's ...
I am glad they finally closed. The restaurant business is very competitive and there is no room for low quality such as that of the infamous Benningans.
For a brief time while I was attending law school in Houston, I worked as a hostess at the Bennigan's at 59 and Kirby. It was great fun, as it was located near where the Rockets then played and many players would come in after games. The place was hopping then, but apparently not so much lately.
Well, not Bennegins but Steak and Ale. I was pregnant with my first child 12/04/08. We went to Steak and Ale for dinner. My favorite place for steak. I loved the Kensington Club. Well later that night, I thought the food were sitting on my bladder, well it wasnt that. My son was born 15 hours later.
Both, Bennigans and S&A declined rapidly over the past few years. No surprise here that they closed. Had they restructured like Black Eyed Pea did, they would still be around. Oh well, stopped goping there a while back because simply put...there were better places to go. Sorry!
I thought the food was good. But about two years ago I received a gift certificate and went to the location in HEB. When I opened the front door, the smell of cigarette smoke was just too much (Like a Turkish opium den). I didn't even make it to the hostess stand, I decided I didn't want to eat in such a nasty smelling place.
There used to be one along I-30 near Nolan High School in the late 80's-early 90's when I was in junior high/high school. We'd go there after football games or before dances. Fun memories.
Ooops--too soon? - You're in America now. We shouldn't be printing menus in other languages to suit everyone else. I wouldn't go to Mexico asking for a menu in English....... You should go back home and think about coming back when you want to read a menu in English.
Bennigan's was great - wish I'd known they were closing so I could have gone in for one last meal. Metromedia are a bunch of jerks to work for though.
My fondest memory of Bennigan's was when I went there for my 16th birthday with some friends. The waitress was dead sexy and I asked for her number. She said she would join us after she got off work at my house. But then the burger I had was raw and I ended up vomiting for the next three hours.
I ran away from Colorado with my college sweetheart(who later became my ex husband) and my first job was at a Bennigan's in Ocala, Florida. A 'northerner' from New York was very rude to me and a man from Dallas at the next table proceeded to tell him that true gentlemen do not treat southern ladies in such a manner. Where are you now Dallas 'gentleman'? One of my first customers was Judd Nelson fron the 'Breakfast Club' movie and I thought I was going to DIE when I saw him. However, he barely spoke, and ate with his long hair hanging in his food like a dog. Nevertheless he was so handsome and 'dark' Ah good times, good times...
I had not been a Bennigan's fans for years, but I always loved the Steak and Ale in Plano on N. Central. I will miss their wonderful mushroom stuffed escargot and filet mignons. Boo hoo. Fran
Unwasher waiters who reek of pot and leave the table with your credit card never to return. Managers whose response is a free appetizer coupon. How could they ever have gone out of business.
This is the latest casualty in the restaurant industry. Despite what people tell you, the Bennigans, Applebee's, etc are not doing well. Clue: if in the Sunday supplement they have coupons on a regular basis, it's a red flag they aren't doing well!
TB, that location closed about 2 years ago. A new sports bar just opened up in the location. The service there (I used to teach at Nolan and still do their P.A.) was sloooooooowwwwwww!
Anonymous. In most of the restaurants on the Mexican side of the Texas/Mexico border their menus are in English and Spanish. Hate to burst your bubble.
My then fiance and I were held up at gunpoint outside the Bennigans at I-35 and Walnut Hill in Dallas in 1982. The police were great. Bennigans management was great. I don't know much about Metromedia, but somewhere in the mix of things you have to offer better food and better service to compete. Don't know if they have restaurant concept that satsifies either one. At one time, Steak & Ale certainly did. And we'll celebrate our 26th anniversary later this year...
I ate at a Steak and Ale on Sunday, for the first time in a while. The steak was actually very good. I'm glad I left a nice tip for our waiter.
Aside from the suddenly unemployed staff of all these restaurants, I'm disappointed that we are now going to have even more empty restaurant buildings scattered around the area.
To remain a sucessful resturant, you have to do what works, which usually means, Only change the menu when something doesn't work. Bennigans, for years, had a menu that worked. Then about 10 yrs ago, they begin to change the menu constantly, changed the format of the stores, and themes of the stores. It didn't work. They should have gone back to their roots and did what worked.
I can remember first going to a Bennigan's in 1979, in Addison, and many visits over the years, to various locations, like the Central near Park location in Plano. I haven't been in several years, but from reading some of the other comments, it sounds like the chain went into decline. I probably won't miss Bennigan's, but I will miss Steak & Ale, one of Norman Brinker's great ideas.
I feel for the folks out of work, but last experience at the Bennigan's in Addison was bad. Simple execution that ANY restaurant manager should be in control of was lacking. The place was not crowded, but it ended up being a 2 hour lunch. One in our party repeatedly asked for a refill, and ended up having to get his own.
Also had a bad experience at the Frisco location. Similar deal, very poor service when not very busy.
I remember going to the one at Walnut Hill and Stemmons back in the early eighties. They had two for one happy hour during lunch!! Oh those drunk afternoons at work.
Posted by Michael Reed Kelly @ 5:41 PM Tue, Jul 29, 2008
I am a now former employee of Steak and Ale, and am disgusted by what I am reading. People trying to be funny and get noticed, all the while forgetting that hundreds of people have just become unemployed. People with families, bills, financial obligations that will now be put on hold while the now former employees of Bennigan's and Steak and Ale go out and try to find a new job in an already competitive market. I am a great server. I was a great employee, and always treated my guests with courtesy and respect, always striving to make them feel like they had entered a "fine dining" environment. Instead of criticism, and mediocre humor, we should pray for the individuals who lost their job that they do not lose much more in the end.
Interesting. Four friends and I had a late dinner at S&A across from SFOT last night. We were the last customers to leave at 11:00 pm. My goofy friend was actually waving goodnight to all the empty dining rooms as we left - even though they were all empty, being as we were the last customers there. I guess he knew something we didn't!
Evidently, we were the last customers to EVER leave that restaurant!
I remember the bennigans on Park, near Greenville, in the early 80's. It was the prime place to work and meet people of the opposite sex. That was the THE place to go, after clubbing on Greenville Ave. I'm sure going to miss Bennigans. Best wishes to the former employees and good luck, to your immediate future.
Michael Reed Kelly: sorry if the blogs offend you, but the question posed from the DMN was "were you a fan" and "do you have any favorite memories?". Thus, people posted their memories- good or bad. Sorry if you were offended. Everyone who lost their job and is now out of work has our sympathies, truly. Good luck quickly finding something new.
We just ate the Plano location last week..feel bad for all those workers who didn't realize at the time that they only had a week left of a job. How many won't be able to pay their rent/mortgage next week? So sad. Thanks for the NON-warning, Bennigan execs!
We celebrated our first anniversary at Steak & Ale. We made it a tradition each year. It was one of the few places you could go for the ambiance without the high price. When they all closed in the metroplex, we drove to Arlington. Christmas Eve 2007 was our 30th year. We're going to miss it!
I went there the day before it closed (Allen on 75) and used my last gift certificate. What luck!
The chain had been in HORRIBLE decline. The FW Sundance Square location was great about a year and a half ago when my cousin managed it, but went downhill horribly recently. I couldn't get a waiter, had to eat at the bar, and they were out of what I wanted. It was a disgrace.
My son claims he was made sick by the location on Park & Preston. That was also a bad location.
I saw a kitchen guy at the Plano one on 75 go back to work from the bathroom without washing his hands. I never went to those 2 again. The Allen location on 75 and the Frisco locations were both pretty good.
I have GREAT memories from back around 1980 when I was 7 and just moved to Houston. They had a Donkey Kong game that was also a table. I was blown away and I also loved their hamburgers back then.
Sad to see it go.
Posted by quartzsite Charlie @ 11:00 PM Tue, Jul 29, 2008
My first visit to Bennigan's was 1981, when I moved to Beaumont... I am now retired in the western Arizona desert, I still have my Bennigan's beer mug from 1981, in fact, have a couple of beers in late
afternoon. keep my mug in the freezer.. suppose I should take good care of it now..
I loved the monte christo
My Bennigan's memories are mostly good (save for the Worst Server Ever--named Gidget, I kid you not--at a Mid-Cities location). I may not have gone there as much as Chili's, Cheddar's or Friday's, but it was still a cool place to go, and the late-night hours were a bonus. Best of luck to all the former employees looking for jobs (and yes, you should have been given a bit more notice).
We are going to miss going to the Steak & Ale on Central in Plano. Had some very good memories of that place. We had birthday and anniversary parties every year. But, I can see why they went out of business with such dummies at MRG that ran the place. HELLO--You close down the place and tell the employees that don't have a job and then have the gall to tell them NOT to talk to the press. You can them and they probably will not get their paychecks and you tell them not to talk to the press. Give me a break--who in the world do you think you are.. You are a bunch of overgrown morons. Bye Steak & Ale--Maybe Brinker will come back and rescue the place.
My wife worked for Metromedia and we are both shocked of what took place yesterday. It's been a good place for her, and our family. I pray that all who were blindsided by this find something fast, and somewhere that is better paying.
I really tried to support Bennigans, but the service was usually subpar, the restaurants unclean, and the non-smoking section was a joke (all the idiot smokers were centered in the middle of the restaurant.) There's a reason they went under...I spend my money elsewhere.
The last time I visited Bennigan's was in December of 2006 and I never went back because of the experience I had there. My grandmother was in the hospital at the time and we'd taken a much-needed break by going out to dinner. My mom, my dad and me went to Bennigan's on 75 in Allen. We were tired, emotionally stressed out and we just needed to relax a little. My 60-year-old mother (who is also a grandmother) ordered a glass of wine and the waiter had the GALL to card her. Because my mother no longer drives, her license was expired and for that reason, the waiter refused to serve her. We told them to cancel our order and then we left to never return. Any restaraunt that refuses to serve a glass of wine to an OBVIOUSLY of-age patron does not deserve my business. I'm sorry though, that so many people are now out of work without any warning. Shame on Metromedia. That's unconsciencable.
How sad.. I know a few of the employees involved in this SHAM.... Most thought they were going to work yesterday......... Now they are left to wonder what to do next. What a SHAME that Metromedia Group has no balls nor do they have any heart! Glad you have gone out of business... As far as the staff goes.. Dont worry you will be ok.. You will find jobs at other great places... See yall at Chilis!!!!!! Screw you Metromedia!
Posted by ReverendVelvet @ 1:53 PM Wed, Jul 30, 2008
When I worked for Chili's - Galleria in Houston we would always go to Bennigan's after work to drink. The Bennigan's employees would always come to Chili's. What's funny is we never ate there and they always ate at Chili's. Foreshadowing party of 2?
PS - Deanna - the waiter was following the law - regardless of age the person consuming alcohol must have a valide ID. Blame it on the quirky TABC and not the waiter/restaurant.
Ah, one of my first jobs was working at the Bennigans at NW Hwy and 635 the summer before I started college. Had a blast--don't remember the work much or what I actually did there, but I have some nice memories of some very cute waitresses who made me drink and do bad things. God bless them every one!
RIP Bennigans--you were 15 years past relevance but bully for you for dragging your demise all the way to 2008.
The night we were married, my new bride and I had dinner at a Steak & Ale on Northwest Highway in Dallas near where Sterling's Jewelry used to be. Great steaks!
While I'm certainly sorry for your experience you're dead wrong in blaming the waiter for refusing to serve your mother a drink without proper ID. The TABC requires that EVERY person ordering an alcoholic be in possession of a valid Texas-issued ID card...no exceptions. To serve your mother would have put the waiter at risk of a fine, even jail time, not to mention his job. And the restaurant itself could face fines, closure, and/or loss of their license.
I didn't care for Bennigans or Steak and Ale, personally. The real losses for me are the Tavern restaurants. My son and I ate at the Plano Tavern (Parker and Tollway) often. Both the food and the service were great, and the restaurant will be sorely missed.
State law DOES NOT require every person to be in possession of a valid TX issued ID. That is up to the restaurant chain policies. State law just says do not serve people under 21.
Straight from the TABC website: "If the patron is obviously over 21, the establishment may not require any ID at all."
One of the RUDEST experiences we ever had was at a Bennigan's in Chicago. After we asked for him, the manager finally came over, but he actually made it worse, so we left immediately before being served.
I wonder where he is today. Ha ha.
Good riddance Bennie's. One less unprofessional player in the mix.
Growing up my family went to the Steak & Ale near Inwood & Lemmon in the 60's for special occasions. Loved the Kensington Club and salad bar. My wife and I started a new years eve tradition several years ago, early dinner at S & A and the home by 6. We'll miss it.
Loved the Monte Cristo and the Death by Chocolate! Didn't like being hit in the face by the bad smell of the restaurant when walking in. All of them smelled like dirty mop water.
I worked at the Chili's on 75 and Park in Plano in the late 90s. We closed earlier than Bennigan's and would often head to the Bennigan's across 75 or to the one on Park and Preston to have some cocktails. We were also lucky enough to close fairly early on Christmas eve (around 4:00) and it became a tradition to head over Bennigan's for a few beers. Good times!
I will say that over the past few years, the thought of going to Bennigan's or S&A never crossed my mine. There are so many other good choices in the DFW area to eat mediocre food.
My sympathies to all of the employees. There's no good time for this to happen, but I know from experience that a lot of waiters count on the last few days of the month to "make rent", so I woud imagine that there are quite a few who are struggling. Apartment managers - give them a break, I'm sure they're good for it!
I'm looking for the "real" recipe for Steak & Ale's
Hawaiian Chicken (not the copy-kat versions found on the internet). Is anyone here a former employee who knows the real recipe? e-mail me
at thday@mail.com or post it at this site.
Posted by Chris P. Bakon @ 7:06 PM Wed, Jul 30, 2008
This whole reckless affair can be squarely placed on the shoulders of the parent company of MRG, Metromedia. They absolutely ruined a signature brand of restaurants, only because they wouldn't let the right people make the right business decisions. So many upper management executives were spun through, who would want to work for such insensitive and clueless management. Good people, good food, keepable concepts. Instead, selfish, lazy people threw in the towel on something great. RIP - you're a classic.
Another for what it's worth about the employees. My son finally got promoted to manager, because he was so very good as a waiter, so he was finally on salary and not tips. So this means, for the last week of work, instead of the very good tips he usually got, he was expecting a check based on the number of hours he had worked as a manager. Guess what - no check - ever! And the rent's due Friday.
Posted by Grilling Rob @ 9:34 PM Wed, Jul 30, 2008
My wife and I loved to eat at Steak and Ale - it was such a nice, romantic atmosphere. There were signs of trouble - inconsistent food quality, and then the menu was reduced to just one sheet of plain paper. But the one in Arlington was always excellent; I thought they might save the brand.
Our hearts go out to all the former employees. As a community we all lose, with higher unemployment and vacant buildings. Management could have at least had the decency to do a farewell and let all the fans eat there one last time.
Posted by YAY FOR STEAK AND ALE!!! @ 10:24 PM Wed, Jul 30, 2008
I worked at Steak and Ale when I was in school about 10 years ago. Even then we spent Friday and Saturday dinner rushes playing cards or making out in the walk-in. I remember a game we had once that we were all very fond of. New red potatoes launched from the dry storage down the hall, past the manager's office, and into the employee toilet. Whoever got the most out of 10 shots won a sheet of acid... Ahhh... good times. Wonder why they closed.
I worked for both bennigans and steak and ale in there prime...when Norman Brinker still controlled them. I'm still in the restuarant business and feel for all the employees that lost there jobs. I wouldn't know what to do if my restuarant closed. 1986 was my first experience with Steak and Ale. I was a busboy. I left as a manager in 2000 because of the decline of the upper managment. I will pray for all the former employees. God bless.
15 years of my life are with Steak and Ale and Bennigans.
I cannot tell you how many wonderful times we have had at Steak and Ale. I remember the first time I ate at S&A was at one in Arlington for our Quill and Scroll Banquet for our AHS Chapter.
My husband and I celebrated so many anniversaries there. It was my son's first job and he worked from waiter to asst. manager. He met his wife there and proposed to her at the one near Six Flags.
We will all miss the Steak and Ales. As far as the Bennigan's, when my daughter was in high school it was the place to go for late dinners. After every event at school, almost everyone went to Bennigan's. Two more American traditions taken out by these sad times economic times. Our hearts go out to the employees who didn't escape in time. Metromedia, you chose a mean and uncaring way to do business. You have no class at all. Sorry, to Norman Brinker for his wonderful idea being ruined by executives who don't deserve the right to even be called that.
My first date with my wife was at a Bennigan's located at Walnut Hill and I-35 in Dallas which closed several years ago. It wasn't my favorite restaurant, but sad to see the whole chain go.
The Las Colinas Bennigan's/Chili's/Frijole's was my lunch hour spot from 1997-2000. My favorite was the MONTE CHRISTO with extra rasberry jam...tons of calories but a huge sandwich that lasted for 2 dys.
The service declined over the years so I revisited only 3-4 times since 2000.
I was a waiter at the Steak and Ale in Duncanville in the early 90's. I waiting on this guy whoi told me he was going to be big someday. His name was Cedric the Entertainer.
My wife and I visited Steak & Ale at least once a month because of its quite, romantic atmosphere and good food. It was always such a great place to unwind and relax. Very sad that it closed and feel badly for the employees. Last night we went to a Texas Roadhouse for steak and the food was okay however the atmosphere was horrible. Very loud and so many kids I thought it was a pre-school! Nothing like the experience we wanted.
Anyone have an idea of where to have a nice relaxing, romantic meal without having to spend "Ruth Chris" prices? Applebee's , Ruby Tuesday and the like are not what I have in mind.
I MANAGED ONE OF THE BENNIGANS AND RECIEVED A CALL AT 8 AM TO GET ON A CONFERENCE CALL AT 8:15. SINCE THE DAY BEFORE WAS PNL AND INVENTORY DAY MOST OF THE MANAGERS HAD BEEN WORKING LATE ON THE NIGHT BEFORE. FIGURED THE CALLWAS TO GET ON TO US ABOUT LABOR COSTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. BUT NO UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE WOKEN UP TO BE TOLD THAT WE WERE ALL UNEMPLOYED.
I GOT UP ANDWENT TO THE RESTARAUNT TO CALL ALL OF MY STAFF. I WANTED THEM TO HEAR IT FROM ME BEFORE THE NEWSCREWS GOT HOLD OF IT. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE THEM MY PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL FOR REFERECE PURPOSES AND ALLOW THEM TO ALL GATHER AND SAY GOODBYE.
I HAD A FABULOUS STAFF AND HOPE THEY ALL HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN THEIR HUNT FOR WORK. THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS AT A WORSE TIME FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND RENT ARE DUE TOMMOROW. WE HAVE HAD NO WORD ON PAY BUT I ASSUME THERE WONT BE ANY. TRIED TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT CORPORATE TODAY BUT THEY PUT YOU ON HOLDAND HANG UP ON YOU.
TRIED TO CASH OUT MY 401k TODAY SO I COULD PAY MY MORTGAGE BUT MRG HAS NOT RELEASED LISTS OF STAFF NO LONGER EMPLOYED AND WAS TOLD TO TRY BACK ON MONDAY AND THEN IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS.
NOW THAT I LOOK BACK AND THEY TOLD US NOT TO TALK TO THE PRESS AND I DIDNT.....SURE WISH I OPENED MY MOUTH ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY HURT EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THIS WAS A COMPANY THAT PUSHED BEING PART OF THE MRG FAMILY AND BLEEDING GREEN FOR THE COMPANY. I GAVE IT 100% AND MORE EVERYDAY.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF MY FELLOW SCREWED BENNIGAN'S, STEAK AND ALE & TAVERN EMPLOYEES. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!!!
My brothers and I all worked at Steak & Ale at one time or another in our careers. Many great memories.I will certainly miss the garland location.Best of luck to all of the former staff.
Steak & Ale was great- my favorite place, really. Unless you want to spend the big $$$, it was one of the only steakhouses with a relaxing, private atmosphere. Most of these joints now are wide-open, extremely noisy, and all have 20 yr. old waitstaff running around like wild banshees in their khaki shorts and golf shirts.
I hate to see anyone lose their job. It was a very misfortunate situation for all of the employees. Buuuut it all boils down to corporate greed. Cutting corners and preparing pre made heat up food. The food at both places was NASTY with a capital N. The very same that happened to Don Pablos. And the same thing that is going to happen to American Airlines. {I am amployeed with AA} They continue to go up on prices and continue to compromise quality. CORPORATE GREED. See you in the welfare line......
Posted by David Laffiteau @ 4:46 PM Sat, Aug 02, 2008
Steak & Ale
My first real job(getting paid minimum wage anyway)
Worked all through High School and all of College, plus Managed a few locations in Dallas. 15 years of service to Steak & Ale.
Great Memories: Softball games with other restaurants, Bartending when 2 for 1 drinks were legal, Big Tip Nights, special customers(including Linda Blair, Charlie Rich, Claude Atkins..to name a few), taking my son to Bennigan's for free hamburgers(free meals to managers), sleeping in front of the fireplace when a winter storm came through Memphis, free salads before starting my shift, cooking for 3-400 guests on Friday nights, late night parties in the parking lot, and free meals for my brother "Bill" at the Garland store.
Many restaurant owners got their start and their training from places like Steak & Ale...and Bennigan's. They lit the path for many an entrepeneur in the hospitality industry.
I can't believe that people are worried about how bad the food and service was. Has anyone ever waited tables before. It is a hard job. People who are in college and that have a family and have bills like everyone else are out of a job without notice. I've worked for Bennigans for 8 years. I got a call on tuesday morning saying that i no longer have a job. Imagine that. I have a house payment due yesterday and no job. I hope that everyone can understand what the staff is going through.
Posted by Very Dissappointed @ 11:00 PM Sat, Aug 02, 2008
Metromedia was a sorry lowdown bunch of mobsters in ties. They are the masters of bankruptcy. If anyonw does not beleive me look it up. Almost everthing they touch goes to hell. Anyone or bussiness that conducts any kind of transaction with a company associated with them beware. Ultimately the tax payer will be making that 92 year old billion heir guy richer off the backs of hard working people. The sooner the fly by night companies go away the better off all will be. I hope metromedia gets theirs in the end just like those enron jokers. Good luck to all that have been effected by this and good luck to the rest of the chains when their unemployment insurance goes up, I hope they send letters of appreciation to those Mertomedia people (sarcasism)
I've seen it coming since I worked there years ago (2001, started just weeks before September 11th). They have had financial troubles for a long time. I will miss their baked potato soup. It did wonders for an ailing tummy (flu, hang over or whatever). It was a miracle cure for what ailed the tummy.
I'm so glad that everyone hated Bennigan's so much. I woke up last Tuesday to no job after 6 years. I started working there after I graduated high school, while attending college. I graduated college and still stayed. My regulars and my fellow employees were and still are some of my best friends. I will miss waiting on all my regulars from Bedford and NRH. I will miss all my friends I worked with, but not the company. I love ya'll from Bedford, regulars and employees alike. Good luck everyone and God Bless!!!!
Posted by Steak and Jail @ 5:44 AM Fri, Aug 15, 2008
I worked at steak and ale for the last 4 years...The S&A I worked at was one of the top performing units within the entire company every year since it started. Seldom was it under the number 3 spot for anual sales for all the units in our regional division, for 2 out of the past 4 it was number 1. How do I know this because sales charts were posted regularly for any employees to see. But on the flipside there were some terrible units that should have been closed a long time ago that were making horrendously small amounts of money, sometimes not even making in a week what we made on a steady weekend. The was the biggest red flag I'd seen earlier on, because usually when companies see that a unit is consistantly under performing and not due to market trends they shut them down. Needless to say they werent shut down to until a little before the company went bankrupt. I dont know why the numbskulls running the company didnt take action earlier like shutting down the under performers, liquidating them, and then spreading the money to improve better performers...Maybe some corporate employees didnt want to see pay cuts, I dunno. But I do know during the last year everyone knew the place was going downhill...It was apparant when people were getting shorted on hours because of labor cost, and when i mean shorted I mean not scheduled and taking 1 to 2 hours off shifts. Staff counts cut down to rediculously low numbers, 2 or 3 kitchen staff on weekdays that means 2 - 3 people making your appetizers, salads, deserts, dinner, washing the dishes, doing prep for meals, then they would have to clean everything at the end of the night, and that was whether there were 20 people in the restaurant or 100. Servers could help sure but most of them either didnt have time or couldnt cause they didnt know how. Beleive me any kitchen job after that was a joke. But in the end it wasnt that bad work is called work for a reason, thats the way most people took it. But in the end we knew it was coming, just didnt know when... the biggest flag I saw was 3 weeks before it closed, we tried to get new microwaves and the check from the company bounced...And for those of you that dont know Metromedia is a huge international company, it doesnt just own restaurants, and actually there wouldnt be the FOX tv networks without it, those channels were originally owned by Metromedia. Its not the parent company that went bankrupt its MRG(metromedia restaurant group) S&A, S&A properties, and one other part that went that filed for chapter 7...But o well it was just a job for me and most people not a career. But it was kind of messed up not being paid for like 5 weeks, and I was lucky cause I got a new job 3 hours after they closed all the stores, but no one got paid for that pay period and my new job came at the end of their pay period... :( o well.
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i work(ed) at a metromedia restaurant. That place was my family and my heart dropped to go up there and see my hopes of this all being a practical joke from a co-worker to be wrong.
the Monte Christo... it was so crispy and yummy. I think that they revived the love of raspberry jam.
My favorite memory was when they decided to print Spanish menus.
I only liked Bennigans in El Paso. It was the only place out there that had Guinness on tap.
1987: our first date was to Bennigan's in Addison and the movie "Dirty Dancing." Our twentieth anniversary is tomorrow, and I guess we won't be able to go to celebrate. It's very sad.
My sister and I are American Airline employee's and we went to the Bennigan's today on East Hwy. 183 in Irving, TX only to find it was closed! They always honored AA employee's and gave us a discount on our food. We will truly miss having a resturant like it Bennigan's close to our work.
They were awfull restaurants. Good ridance!
i loved the chicken salad that was served in a sliced pineapple ande
the dark wheat buns sprinkled with brown sugar ... but this has been off the menu for many years ... good bye bennigan's ...
I remember when Bennigan's was a primo meat market in 1980-1982
Go gently into that good night, broccoli cheese balls.
I am glad they finally closed. The restaurant business is very competitive and there is no room for low quality such as that of the infamous Benningans.
mmmmm...turkey o'toole...
For a brief time while I was attending law school in Houston, I worked as a hostess at the Bennigan's at 59 and Kirby. It was great fun, as it was located near where the Rockets then played and many players would come in after games. The place was hopping then, but apparently not so much lately.
Bennigan's was great in it's day... but not so much for the last several years.
No great loss.......they were really bad restaurants!!
Well, not Bennegins but Steak and Ale. I was pregnant with my first child 12/04/08. We went to Steak and Ale for dinner. My favorite place for steak. I loved the Kensington Club. Well later that night, I thought the food were sitting on my bladder, well it wasnt that. My son was born 15 hours later.
Both, Bennigans and S&A declined rapidly over the past few years. No surprise here that they closed. Had they restructured like Black Eyed Pea did, they would still be around. Oh well, stopped goping there a while back because simply put...there were better places to go. Sorry!
I thought the food was good. But about two years ago I received a gift certificate and went to the location in HEB. When I opened the front door, the smell of cigarette smoke was just too much (Like a Turkish opium den). I didn't even make it to the hostess stand, I decided I didn't want to eat in such a nasty smelling place.
There used to be one along I-30 near Nolan High School in the late 80's-early 90's when I was in junior high/high school. We'd go there after football games or before dances. Fun memories.
Shouldn't those places have closed down like 15 years ago! Fried mozzarella sticks and long island ice teas.....ah, the memories. Blech.
Ooops--too soon? - You're in America now. We shouldn't be printing menus in other languages to suit everyone else. I wouldn't go to Mexico asking for a menu in English....... You should go back home and think about coming back when you want to read a menu in English.
Bennigan's was great - wish I'd known they were closing so I could have gone in for one last meal. Metromedia are a bunch of jerks to work for though.
does throwing up count???
My fondest memory of Bennigan's was when I went there for my 16th birthday with some friends. The waitress was dead sexy and I asked for her number. She said she would join us after she got off work at my house. But then the burger I had was raw and I ended up vomiting for the next three hours.
I ran away from Colorado with my college sweetheart(who later became my ex husband) and my first job was at a Bennigan's in Ocala, Florida. A 'northerner' from New York was very rude to me and a man from Dallas at the next table proceeded to tell him that true gentlemen do not treat southern ladies in such a manner. Where are you now Dallas 'gentleman'? One of my first customers was Judd Nelson fron the 'Breakfast Club' movie and I thought I was going to DIE when I saw him. However, he barely spoke, and ate with his long hair hanging in his food like a dog. Nevertheless he was so handsome and 'dark' Ah good times, good times...
I had not been a Bennigan's fans for years, but I always loved the Steak and Ale in Plano on N. Central. I will miss their wonderful mushroom stuffed escargot and filet mignons. Boo hoo. Fran
The only place in the world you vould get a decent meal... What in heavens are we going to do?
ahhh yes memories
Unwasher waiters who reek of pot and leave the table with your credit card never to return. Managers whose response is a free appetizer coupon. How could they ever have gone out of business.
This is the latest casualty in the restaurant industry. Despite what people tell you, the Bennigans, Applebee's, etc are not doing well. Clue: if in the Sunday supplement they have coupons on a regular basis, it's a red flag they aren't doing well!
TB, that location closed about 2 years ago. A new sports bar just opened up in the location. The service there (I used to teach at Nolan and still do their P.A.) was sloooooooowwwwwww!
Anonymous. In most of the restaurants on the Mexican side of the Texas/Mexico border their menus are in English and Spanish. Hate to burst your bubble.
Our closest Bennigan's was at Cedar Hill. The food and service sucked. Hopefully a better restaurant will move int the building.
Unfortunately the memories are bad...
Awful service and mediocre food is putting it nicely. You hate to see a business fail, but they just never seemed to do things right...
Five words:
Las Colinas-Bennigan's-Chili's-Frijole's trifecta
My then fiance and I were held up at gunpoint outside the Bennigans at I-35 and Walnut Hill in Dallas in 1982. The police were great. Bennigans management was great. I don't know much about Metromedia, but somewhere in the mix of things you have to offer better food and better service to compete. Don't know if they have restaurant concept that satsifies either one. At one time, Steak & Ale certainly did. And we'll celebrate our 26th anniversary later this year...
Crap! Now what am I going to do with the Bennigan's gift card I got last Christmas? I KNEW I should have used it last weekend!!!
I ate at a Steak and Ale on Sunday, for the first time in a while. The steak was actually very good. I'm glad I left a nice tip for our waiter.
Aside from the suddenly unemployed staff of all these restaurants, I'm disappointed that we are now going to have even more empty restaurant buildings scattered around the area.
To remain a sucessful resturant, you have to do what works, which usually means, Only change the menu when something doesn't work. Bennigans, for years, had a menu that worked. Then about 10 yrs ago, they begin to change the menu constantly, changed the format of the stores, and themes of the stores. It didn't work. They should have gone back to their roots and did what worked.
R.I.P.
I can remember first going to a Bennigan's in 1979, in Addison, and many visits over the years, to various locations, like the Central near Park location in Plano. I haven't been in several years, but from reading some of the other comments, it sounds like the chain went into decline. I probably won't miss Bennigan's, but I will miss Steak & Ale, one of Norman Brinker's great ideas.
I feel for the folks out of work, but last experience at the Bennigan's in Addison was bad. Simple execution that ANY restaurant manager should be in control of was lacking. The place was not crowded, but it ended up being a 2 hour lunch. One in our party repeatedly asked for a refill, and ended up having to get his own.
Also had a bad experience at the Frisco location. Similar deal, very poor service when not very busy.
boring menu
abysmal food
disinterested staff
I'm going to miss that place.
I remember going to the one at Walnut Hill and Stemmons back in the early eighties. They had two for one happy hour during lunch!! Oh those drunk afternoons at work.
I am a now former employee of Steak and Ale, and am disgusted by what I am reading. People trying to be funny and get noticed, all the while forgetting that hundreds of people have just become unemployed. People with families, bills, financial obligations that will now be put on hold while the now former employees of Bennigan's and Steak and Ale go out and try to find a new job in an already competitive market. I am a great server. I was a great employee, and always treated my guests with courtesy and respect, always striving to make them feel like they had entered a "fine dining" environment. Instead of criticism, and mediocre humor, we should pray for the individuals who lost their job that they do not lose much more in the end.
Interesting. Four friends and I had a late dinner at S&A across from SFOT last night. We were the last customers to leave at 11:00 pm. My goofy friend was actually waving goodnight to all the empty dining rooms as we left - even though they were all empty, being as we were the last customers there. I guess he knew something we didn't!
Evidently, we were the last customers to EVER leave that restaurant!
I remember the bennigans on Park, near Greenville, in the early 80's. It was the prime place to work and meet people of the opposite sex. That was the THE place to go, after clubbing on Greenville Ave. I'm sure going to miss Bennigans. Best wishes to the former employees and good luck, to your immediate future.
Michael Reed Kelly: sorry if the blogs offend you, but the question posed from the DMN was "were you a fan" and "do you have any favorite memories?". Thus, people posted their memories- good or bad. Sorry if you were offended. Everyone who lost their job and is now out of work has our sympathies, truly. Good luck quickly finding something new.
We just ate the Plano location last week..feel bad for all those workers who didn't realize at the time that they only had a week left of a job. How many won't be able to pay their rent/mortgage next week? So sad. Thanks for the NON-warning, Bennigan execs!
We celebrated our first anniversary at Steak & Ale. We made it a tradition each year. It was one of the few places you could go for the ambiance without the high price. When they all closed in the metroplex, we drove to Arlington. Christmas Eve 2007 was our 30th year. We're going to miss it!
I went there the day before it closed (Allen on 75) and used my last gift certificate. What luck!
The chain had been in HORRIBLE decline. The FW Sundance Square location was great about a year and a half ago when my cousin managed it, but went downhill horribly recently. I couldn't get a waiter, had to eat at the bar, and they were out of what I wanted. It was a disgrace.
My son claims he was made sick by the location on Park & Preston. That was also a bad location.
I saw a kitchen guy at the Plano one on 75 go back to work from the bathroom without washing his hands. I never went to those 2 again. The Allen location on 75 and the Frisco locations were both pretty good.
I have GREAT memories from back around 1980 when I was 7 and just moved to Houston. They had a Donkey Kong game that was also a table. I was blown away and I also loved their hamburgers back then.
Sad to see it go.
My first visit to Bennigan's was 1981, when I moved to Beaumont... I am now retired in the western Arizona desert, I still have my Bennigan's beer mug from 1981, in fact, have a couple of beers in late
afternoon. keep my mug in the freezer.. suppose I should take good care of it now..
I loved the monte christo
Quartzsite Charlie
My Bennigan's memories are mostly good (save for the Worst Server Ever--named Gidget, I kid you not--at a Mid-Cities location). I may not have gone there as much as Chili's, Cheddar's or Friday's, but it was still a cool place to go, and the late-night hours were a bonus. Best of luck to all the former employees looking for jobs (and yes, you should have been given a bit more notice).
We are going to miss going to the Steak & Ale on Central in Plano. Had some very good memories of that place. We had birthday and anniversary parties every year. But, I can see why they went out of business with such dummies at MRG that ran the place. HELLO--You close down the place and tell the employees that don't have a job and then have the gall to tell them NOT to talk to the press. You can them and they probably will not get their paychecks and you tell them not to talk to the press. Give me a break--who in the world do you think you are.. You are a bunch of overgrown morons. Bye Steak & Ale--Maybe Brinker will come back and rescue the place.
My wife worked for Metromedia and we are both shocked of what took place yesterday. It's been a good place for her, and our family. I pray that all who were blindsided by this find something fast, and somewhere that is better paying.
In the day, Steak & Ale was the place to be seen. Many, many years ago.
I really tried to support Bennigans, but the service was usually subpar, the restaurants unclean, and the non-smoking section was a joke (all the idiot smokers were centered in the middle of the restaurant.) There's a reason they went under...I spend my money elsewhere.
I got food poisoning from a Name Your Own Burger one time. I do hate to see so many people lose their jobs. The food, however, I will not miss.
The last time I visited Bennigan's was in December of 2006 and I never went back because of the experience I had there. My grandmother was in the hospital at the time and we'd taken a much-needed break by going out to dinner. My mom, my dad and me went to Bennigan's on 75 in Allen. We were tired, emotionally stressed out and we just needed to relax a little. My 60-year-old mother (who is also a grandmother) ordered a glass of wine and the waiter had the GALL to card her. Because my mother no longer drives, her license was expired and for that reason, the waiter refused to serve her. We told them to cancel our order and then we left to never return. Any restaraunt that refuses to serve a glass of wine to an OBVIOUSLY of-age patron does not deserve my business. I'm sorry though, that so many people are now out of work without any warning. Shame on Metromedia. That's unconsciencable.
How sad.. I know a few of the employees involved in this SHAM.... Most thought they were going to work yesterday......... Now they are left to wonder what to do next. What a SHAME that Metromedia Group has no balls nor do they have any heart! Glad you have gone out of business... As far as the staff goes.. Dont worry you will be ok.. You will find jobs at other great places... See yall at Chilis!!!!!! Screw you Metromedia!
When I worked for Chili's - Galleria in Houston we would always go to Bennigan's after work to drink. The Bennigan's employees would always come to Chili's. What's funny is we never ate there and they always ate at Chili's. Foreshadowing party of 2?
PS - Deanna - the waiter was following the law - regardless of age the person consuming alcohol must have a valide ID. Blame it on the quirky TABC and not the waiter/restaurant.
Ah, one of my first jobs was working at the Bennigans at NW Hwy and 635 the summer before I started college. Had a blast--don't remember the work much or what I actually did there, but I have some nice memories of some very cute waitresses who made me drink and do bad things. God bless them every one!
RIP Bennigans--you were 15 years past relevance but bully for you for dragging your demise all the way to 2008.
The night we were married, my new bride and I had dinner at a Steak & Ale on Northwest Highway in Dallas near where Sterling's Jewelry used to be. Great steaks!
@ Deanna
While I'm certainly sorry for your experience you're dead wrong in blaming the waiter for refusing to serve your mother a drink without proper ID. The TABC requires that EVERY person ordering an alcoholic be in possession of a valid Texas-issued ID card...no exceptions. To serve your mother would have put the waiter at risk of a fine, even jail time, not to mention his job. And the restaurant itself could face fines, closure, and/or loss of their license.
I didn't care for Bennigans or Steak and Ale, personally. The real losses for me are the Tavern restaurants. My son and I ate at the Plano Tavern (Parker and Tollway) often. Both the food and the service were great, and the restaurant will be sorely missed.
@ the people saying Deanna is wrong:
State law DOES NOT require every person to be in possession of a valid TX issued ID. That is up to the restaurant chain policies. State law just says do not serve people under 21.
Straight from the TABC website: "If the patron is obviously over 21, the establishment may not require any ID at all."
http://www.tabc.state.tx.us/leginfo/ageVerify.htm
My parents first met each other at the Bennigans in Plano along 75. Its a shame it won't be there anymore
One of the RUDEST experiences we ever had was at a Bennigan's in Chicago. After we asked for him, the manager finally came over, but he actually made it worse, so we left immediately before being served.
I wonder where he is today. Ha ha.
Good riddance Bennie's. One less unprofessional player in the mix.
Growing up my family went to the Steak & Ale near Inwood & Lemmon in the 60's for special occasions. Loved the Kensington Club and salad bar. My wife and I started a new years eve tradition several years ago, early dinner at S & A and the home by 6. We'll miss it.
Loved the Monte Cristo and the Death by Chocolate! Didn't like being hit in the face by the bad smell of the restaurant when walking in. All of them smelled like dirty mop water.
I worked at the Chili's on 75 and Park in Plano in the late 90s. We closed earlier than Bennigan's and would often head to the Bennigan's across 75 or to the one on Park and Preston to have some cocktails. We were also lucky enough to close fairly early on Christmas eve (around 4:00) and it became a tradition to head over Bennigan's for a few beers. Good times!
I will say that over the past few years, the thought of going to Bennigan's or S&A never crossed my mine. There are so many other good choices in the DFW area to eat mediocre food.
My sympathies to all of the employees. There's no good time for this to happen, but I know from experience that a lot of waiters count on the last few days of the month to "make rent", so I woud imagine that there are quite a few who are struggling. Apartment managers - give them a break, I'm sure they're good for it!
I'm looking for the "real" recipe for Steak & Ale's
Hawaiian Chicken (not the copy-kat versions found on the internet). Is anyone here a former employee who knows the real recipe? e-mail me
at thday@mail.com or post it at this site.
This whole reckless affair can be squarely placed on the shoulders of the parent company of MRG, Metromedia. They absolutely ruined a signature brand of restaurants, only because they wouldn't let the right people make the right business decisions. So many upper management executives were spun through, who would want to work for such insensitive and clueless management. Good people, good food, keepable concepts. Instead, selfish, lazy people threw in the towel on something great. RIP - you're a classic.
Another for what it's worth about the employees. My son finally got promoted to manager, because he was so very good as a waiter, so he was finally on salary and not tips. So this means, for the last week of work, instead of the very good tips he usually got, he was expecting a check based on the number of hours he had worked as a manager. Guess what - no check - ever! And the rent's due Friday.
My wife and I loved to eat at Steak and Ale - it was such a nice, romantic atmosphere. There were signs of trouble - inconsistent food quality, and then the menu was reduced to just one sheet of plain paper. But the one in Arlington was always excellent; I thought they might save the brand.
Our hearts go out to all the former employees. As a community we all lose, with higher unemployment and vacant buildings. Management could have at least had the decency to do a farewell and let all the fans eat there one last time.
I worked at Steak and Ale when I was in school about 10 years ago. Even then we spent Friday and Saturday dinner rushes playing cards or making out in the walk-in. I remember a game we had once that we were all very fond of. New red potatoes launched from the dry storage down the hall, past the manager's office, and into the employee toilet. Whoever got the most out of 10 shots won a sheet of acid... Ahhh... good times. Wonder why they closed.
I worked for both bennigans and steak and ale in there prime...when Norman Brinker still controlled them. I'm still in the restuarant business and feel for all the employees that lost there jobs. I wouldn't know what to do if my restuarant closed. 1986 was my first experience with Steak and Ale. I was a busboy. I left as a manager in 2000 because of the decline of the upper managment. I will pray for all the former employees. God bless.
15 years of my life are with Steak and Ale and Bennigans.
I cannot tell you how many wonderful times we have had at Steak and Ale. I remember the first time I ate at S&A was at one in Arlington for our Quill and Scroll Banquet for our AHS Chapter.
My husband and I celebrated so many anniversaries there. It was my son's first job and he worked from waiter to asst. manager. He met his wife there and proposed to her at the one near Six Flags.
We will all miss the Steak and Ales. As far as the Bennigan's, when my daughter was in high school it was the place to go for late dinners. After every event at school, almost everyone went to Bennigan's. Two more American traditions taken out by these sad times economic times. Our hearts go out to the employees who didn't escape in time. Metromedia, you chose a mean and uncaring way to do business. You have no class at all. Sorry, to Norman Brinker for his wonderful idea being ruined by executives who don't deserve the right to even be called that.
Steak and Ale thanks for the wonderful memories.
My first date with my wife was at a Bennigan's located at Walnut Hill and I-35 in Dallas which closed several years ago. It wasn't my favorite restaurant, but sad to see the whole chain go.
The Las Colinas Bennigan's/Chili's/Frijole's was my lunch hour spot from 1997-2000. My favorite was the MONTE CHRISTO with extra rasberry jam...tons of calories but a huge sandwich that lasted for 2 dys.
The service declined over the years so I revisited only 3-4 times since 2000.
I was a waiter at the Steak and Ale in Duncanville in the early 90's. I waiting on this guy whoi told me he was going to be big someday. His name was Cedric the Entertainer.
My wife and I visited Steak & Ale at least once a month because of its quite, romantic atmosphere and good food. It was always such a great place to unwind and relax. Very sad that it closed and feel badly for the employees. Last night we went to a Texas Roadhouse for steak and the food was okay however the atmosphere was horrible. Very loud and so many kids I thought it was a pre-school! Nothing like the experience we wanted.
Anyone have an idea of where to have a nice relaxing, romantic meal without having to spend "Ruth Chris" prices? Applebee's , Ruby Tuesday and the like are not what I have in mind.
We will miss Steak & Ale!
i worked at steak and ale and loved it and loved everyone i worked with. were all heartbroken. rip
i worked at steak and ale up to the last day. it was a great job. so many great memories at that place. were all heartbroken and still in shock. rip
I MANAGED ONE OF THE BENNIGANS AND RECIEVED A CALL AT 8 AM TO GET ON A CONFERENCE CALL AT 8:15. SINCE THE DAY BEFORE WAS PNL AND INVENTORY DAY MOST OF THE MANAGERS HAD BEEN WORKING LATE ON THE NIGHT BEFORE. FIGURED THE CALLWAS TO GET ON TO US ABOUT LABOR COSTS OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES. BUT NO UNFORTUNATELY WE WERE WOKEN UP TO BE TOLD THAT WE WERE ALL UNEMPLOYED.
I GOT UP ANDWENT TO THE RESTARAUNT TO CALL ALL OF MY STAFF. I WANTED THEM TO HEAR IT FROM ME BEFORE THE NEWSCREWS GOT HOLD OF IT. I ALSO WANTED TO GIVE THEM MY PERSONAL PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL FOR REFERECE PURPOSES AND ALLOW THEM TO ALL GATHER AND SAY GOODBYE.
I HAD A FABULOUS STAFF AND HOPE THEY ALL HAVE GREAT SUCCESS IN THEIR HUNT FOR WORK. THEY COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS AT A WORSE TIME FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND RENT ARE DUE TOMMOROW. WE HAVE HAD NO WORD ON PAY BUT I ASSUME THERE WONT BE ANY. TRIED TO TALK TO SOMEONE AT CORPORATE TODAY BUT THEY PUT YOU ON HOLDAND HANG UP ON YOU.
TRIED TO CASH OUT MY 401k TODAY SO I COULD PAY MY MORTGAGE BUT MRG HAS NOT RELEASED LISTS OF STAFF NO LONGER EMPLOYED AND WAS TOLD TO TRY BACK ON MONDAY AND THEN IT WOULD BE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS.
NOW THAT I LOOK BACK AND THEY TOLD US NOT TO TALK TO THE PRESS AND I DIDNT.....SURE WISH I OPENED MY MOUTH ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY HURT EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THIS WAS A COMPANY THAT PUSHED BEING PART OF THE MRG FAMILY AND BLEEDING GREEN FOR THE COMPANY. I GAVE IT 100% AND MORE EVERYDAY.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF MY FELLOW SCREWED BENNIGAN'S, STEAK AND ALE & TAVERN EMPLOYEES. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!!!
My brothers and I all worked at Steak & Ale at one time or another in our careers. Many great memories.I will certainly miss the garland location.Best of luck to all of the former staff.
Steak & Ale was great- my favorite place, really. Unless you want to spend the big $$$, it was one of the only steakhouses with a relaxing, private atmosphere. Most of these joints now are wide-open, extremely noisy, and all have 20 yr. old waitstaff running around like wild banshees in their khaki shorts and golf shirts.
I hate to see anyone lose their job. It was a very misfortunate situation for all of the employees. Buuuut it all boils down to corporate greed. Cutting corners and preparing pre made heat up food. The food at both places was NASTY with a capital N. The very same that happened to Don Pablos. And the same thing that is going to happen to American Airlines. {I am amployeed with AA} They continue to go up on prices and continue to compromise quality. CORPORATE GREED. See you in the welfare line......
Steak & Ale
My first real job(getting paid minimum wage anyway)
Worked all through High School and all of College, plus Managed a few locations in Dallas. 15 years of service to Steak & Ale.
Great Memories: Softball games with other restaurants, Bartending when 2 for 1 drinks were legal, Big Tip Nights, special customers(including Linda Blair, Charlie Rich, Claude Atkins..to name a few), taking my son to Bennigan's for free hamburgers(free meals to managers), sleeping in front of the fireplace when a winter storm came through Memphis, free salads before starting my shift, cooking for 3-400 guests on Friday nights, late night parties in the parking lot, and free meals for my brother "Bill" at the Garland store.
Many restaurant owners got their start and their training from places like Steak & Ale...and Bennigan's. They lit the path for many an entrepeneur in the hospitality industry.
David Laffiteau (Garland)
I can't believe that people are worried about how bad the food and service was. Has anyone ever waited tables before. It is a hard job. People who are in college and that have a family and have bills like everyone else are out of a job without notice. I've worked for Bennigans for 8 years. I got a call on tuesday morning saying that i no longer have a job. Imagine that. I have a house payment due yesterday and no job. I hope that everyone can understand what the staff is going through.
Metromedia was a sorry lowdown bunch of mobsters in ties. They are the masters of bankruptcy. If anyonw does not beleive me look it up. Almost everthing they touch goes to hell. Anyone or bussiness that conducts any kind of transaction with a company associated with them beware. Ultimately the tax payer will be making that 92 year old billion heir guy richer off the backs of hard working people. The sooner the fly by night companies go away the better off all will be. I hope metromedia gets theirs in the end just like those enron jokers. Good luck to all that have been effected by this and good luck to the rest of the chains when their unemployment insurance goes up, I hope they send letters of appreciation to those Mertomedia people (sarcasism)
I've seen it coming since I worked there years ago (2001, started just weeks before September 11th). They have had financial troubles for a long time. I will miss their baked potato soup. It did wonders for an ailing tummy (flu, hang over or whatever). It was a miracle cure for what ailed the tummy.
I'm so glad that everyone hated Bennigan's so much. I woke up last Tuesday to no job after 6 years. I started working there after I graduated high school, while attending college. I graduated college and still stayed. My regulars and my fellow employees were and still are some of my best friends. I will miss waiting on all my regulars from Bedford and NRH. I will miss all my friends I worked with, but not the company. I love ya'll from Bedford, regulars and employees alike. Good luck everyone and God Bless!!!!
so what do you do if you have a bennigans gift card?.....
I worked at steak and ale for the last 4 years...The S&A I worked at was one of the top performing units within the entire company every year since it started. Seldom was it under the number 3 spot for anual sales for all the units in our regional division, for 2 out of the past 4 it was number 1. How do I know this because sales charts were posted regularly for any employees to see. But on the flipside there were some terrible units that should have been closed a long time ago that were making horrendously small amounts of money, sometimes not even making in a week what we made on a steady weekend. The was the biggest red flag I'd seen earlier on, because usually when companies see that a unit is consistantly under performing and not due to market trends they shut them down. Needless to say they werent shut down to until a little before the company went bankrupt. I dont know why the numbskulls running the company didnt take action earlier like shutting down the under performers, liquidating them, and then spreading the money to improve better performers...Maybe some corporate employees didnt want to see pay cuts, I dunno. But I do know during the last year everyone knew the place was going downhill...It was apparant when people were getting shorted on hours because of labor cost, and when i mean shorted I mean not scheduled and taking 1 to 2 hours off shifts. Staff counts cut down to rediculously low numbers, 2 or 3 kitchen staff on weekdays that means 2 - 3 people making your appetizers, salads, deserts, dinner, washing the dishes, doing prep for meals, then they would have to clean everything at the end of the night, and that was whether there were 20 people in the restaurant or 100. Servers could help sure but most of them either didnt have time or couldnt cause they didnt know how. Beleive me any kitchen job after that was a joke. But in the end it wasnt that bad work is called work for a reason, thats the way most people took it. But in the end we knew it was coming, just didnt know when... the biggest flag I saw was 3 weeks before it closed, we tried to get new microwaves and the check from the company bounced...And for those of you that dont know Metromedia is a huge international company, it doesnt just own restaurants, and actually there wouldnt be the FOX tv networks without it, those channels were originally owned by Metromedia. Its not the parent company that went bankrupt its MRG(metromedia restaurant group) S&A, S&A properties, and one other part that went that filed for chapter 7...But o well it was just a job for me and most people not a career. But it was kind of messed up not being paid for like 5 weeks, and I was lucky cause I got a new job 3 hours after they closed all the stores, but no one got paid for that pay period and my new job came at the end of their pay period... :( o well.