Vintage Housewares: China, Dishes & Tableware - Part 3: Restaurant Dishes

[@HumbleVoyager]

That mug with the gold "M" topped with a gold crown is one of the old Marriott logos. I worked for Marriott and their subsidiaries for over 30 years! Thanks for the video, Kevin!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you, Nancy!! I appreciate the information and that explains the "M" on the mug!

[@susanpaulson9010]

That’s exactly what I was going to add

[@askmamalouise7605]

I love vintage tableware! It's what I search for first on my antique adventures. Thanks a million for the best videos for the vintage lover!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks so much, Mama Louise!

[@cscs7710]

The divided plates were called "grill" plates. This your best video yet!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks for that information! I was sure there was a term for those plates.

[@russbear31]

This video makes me want to start collecting this china. Such good memories. I had flashbacks to more than 40 years ago when I worked in downtown Kansas City. I would occasionally pop into a Harzfeld's, a huge dept store like Macy's, and eat lunch at their restaurant. It was a little fancy, so they had their own china. But the biggest memory from Harzfeld's was their huge Thomas Hart Benton mural in the dining room. It was called Anchelous and Hercules. After the store closed and before it was torn down the Smithsonian actually bought the mural and moved the walls to Washington. It's weird. It's now a huge life-sized painting in a museum and I used to eat lunch under it. 😅

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi russbear - thanks for sharing the story of Harzfeld's dining room. I'm sure it was a special place and I'm glad that mural was saved. Thanks!

[@susanpaulson9010]

Yes, me too. I visit good will but ours isn’t the greatest.

[@jonathan_nc]

I love how Marianne is the expert on cities these were manufactured in. A very smart cookie! The only restaurant ware I remember is from the K&W Cafeteria and it was mostly plain white thick china. I have some green striped mugs from, I think, Syracuse China. Very thick and they don't hold much. I used them last for dyeing Easter eggs. Google says Holden's Drive-In was an Oklahoma hamburger joint that's now permanently closed, for the most part. Thanks for the video on restaurant china. Very informative and evocative of a "made in America" era that's now mostly gone.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jonathan - thanks for the research on Holden's Drive-In. Wonder how that plate made it's way to Michigan? Probably a fun story there somewhere or maybe someone kept it as a souvenir. It certainly was a time when most things we used were made in the USA. Thanks!

[@cyrilhudak4568]

I inherited a complete four place set of the green border Shenango china. My aunt worked there and got it for my parents. Heavy, durable and dishwasher safe. Use it every day.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Cyril - Shanango made very sturdy china! Glad you use yours daily!

[@giro6863]

I absolutely love restaurant china, my all time favorite! It's sturdy and holds the heat very well. I like to run my plates under very hot water before serving the food. Always on the lookout for pieces. I have odds and ends pieces and use them all depending on my mood . Mostly Homer Laughlin, and one of the patterns is a Greek style hieroogliphic look in a flat gold tone color. OMG....LOVE the Sears cup!! Thank you for sharing all your goodies with us 💛✨

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Giro - glad you enjoyed the video and you're also a fan of restaurant china! It is durable and holds heat very well. Thanks!

[@dianaw.571]

LOVE the Corning red line dishes. Would love to have a set in my kitchen. I remember my Grandma taking me downtown on the bus to have lunch in Nordstrom's restaurant. What a treat! White table linens, fancy glasses, silverware and dishes. I don't recall the patterns, but the desserts were always so fancy and delicious.

[@JWimpy]

Now you are talking about one of my favorites. I have always loved restaurant china. And another thing I really love is the background sounds of a cafeteria with the continual sounds of these china pieces clinking together with the low sound of people's voices as they talk. One of my favorite places to eat was Wyatt's Cafeteria or Luby's Cafeteria.

[@BritInvLvr]

I was just about to type the same thing. 😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Johnny - I also miss the sounds of a busy cafeteria. I loved what a cross section of society those places were - people from all walks of life would eat there. Thanks!

[@paulwrightwa]

Oh wow! I remember the green striped Corning coffee mugs from my time at Fort Lewis, every canteen, cafeteria and NCO club had them for coffee. Thank for bringing back wonderful memories!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

You're welcome, Paul! Glad it brought back some memories!

[@annarussell3751]

Thank you for showing these! They are beautiful sturdy dishes. Imagine all the lovely breakfasts and meals enjoyed on them in restaurants!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Anna! You are right - I'm sure many of these dishes served thousands of meals!

[@christinamo7]

These tableware videos are my favorite !!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Glad you enjoy them, Christina!

[@salliemorrill2671]

Sears restaurants? Never knew they existed. Fascinating. I'm sorry that I missed that experience. The Homer Lauflin commercial series had well thought out designs. They made sure you would remember them. I remember Howard Johnsons. Great video. Hello to Maryann! Thank you for keeping your brother on track. Surprised Ralph was enjoying a piece of apple pie on on small dish. Sorry we missed ya, Ralph

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Sallie - it seems like only certain Sears stores had restaurants. I used to love Howard Johnson's and I know they had their own custom china - would love to find a piece someday. Thanks!!

[@hereforit2347]

@01:53: I love that glass Corningware restaurant place setting. Those oval plates/platters are so indicative of small breakfast diners or “greasy spoons”, as my mother used to call them. They’re reminding me of Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles where my mother used to take us in the early 70s. They had the freshest eggs ever. 🥚🐓

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi - those Corning dishes are great, and very sturdy. I've heard of Clifton's Cafeteria - I'll bet the food there was wonderful! Thanks!

[@charlessommers7218]

Good program. The way it used to be and the way it should be today. Thank you 😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you, Charles!

[@tamsondarland8951]

Love restaurant ware so much. My Grandmother had a complete set of Homer Laughlin white with green banner around edges. Brought back some great memories as you were reviewing your restaurant ware.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Tamson! Thanks so much and glad it brought back some memories! That Homer Laughlin china is wonderful!

[@tamsondarland8951]

@@cavalcadeoffood Your most welcome Kevin. Thank you for bringing beautiful memories of the vintage past on video.

[@patricianorton3908]

When I was growing up in Boston, I remember when mum and dad "splurged" on two very large coffee cups from Woolworth's. I’m pretty sure that they were one of the precursors to today’s mugs. From NH Patricia. 👵🏻😉

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Patricia! Funny how cups got bigger over time and eventually mugs became the standard. Woolworth's must have been ahead to the trend!

[@brownsuga6654]

​@cavalcadeoffood I'm always amused when I have one of my vintage dish sets out and I compare the cups to my modern ones. The modern cups make the vintage ones look like a children's toy. When I use the vintage sets I have to fill my coffee cup at least twice even three times to get the amount that a modern cup holds.

[@PC-un7zf]

@@brownsuga6654 And many of the vintage dinner plates are smaller than today's plates!!

[@brownsuga6654]

@@PC-un7zf True! The plates to both my modern sets make the vintage dinner plates look like bread or salad plates. Maybe we would all be slimmer if we ate from smaller vintage dinnerware, LOL.

[@scooterdover2771]

The restaurant ware is cool, but I really like the monogramed stuff from the department stores, hotels, and restaurants. I remember seeing some time ago some restaurant ware that I think was from the the 30's or 40's. It had the most interesting shaped coffee cups and saucers. They were big on the bottom and kind of short and were kind of sandy colored with the green stripe. They just intrigued me.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Scooter! The custom china is a lot of fun - a walk through history! Thanks!

[@brettster3331]

Hi Kevin and Mary, this is so much fun to see, I wish this kind of china with its great patterns were still used in my area, I sometimes see some like this at breakfast places but mostly in solid color with no decoration.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Brett - glad you enjoyed the video. Not many restaurants still use this kind of china, but I do see it at diners from time to time here. Thanks!

[@ravenmccall5486]

I knew it when I saw it, haven't even thought about it! Dad & Mom taking us to Montgomery Ward and having a meal! Wow Kevin thanks for reminding me, I knew the logo before you said it! You made my day!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Raven - glad it brought back a good memory! I miss Montgomery Ward!

[@ravenmccall5486]

@@cavalcadeoffood I miss them too! And I miss Sears, JC Penny & Robert Hall!

[@VickiFromMichigan]

Hello Kevin & MaryAnn🌻... I recently found a fun little restaurant ware lidded sugar bowl by Walker China and also marked on the bottom... Made Expressly for The Lee Plaza Hotel... which I believe was(or is) located in Detroit and operated during the 1930's. Thanks for sharing your treasures🌼

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Victoria! What a great find!! Yes, the Lee Plaza was a very upscale hotel in Detroit back in the 30's and 40's. Enjoy!

[@jakeblake231]

I eat off of china like this every day. Although most of it is American-made, this video caused me to look at my pieces, and I discovered my oval vegetable serving dishes are actually made in Germany. Odd. Great video Kevin!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Jake! Sounds like the company may have contracted with another company to produce certain pieces that perhaps they weren't able to make themselves.

[@judyp.6753]

Thanks for the video. Very enjoyable.😊

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Judy!

[@annarussell3751]

The symbol of the man holding the glass blower on the back of the plate is “Little Joe.” My family lived near Corning, NY.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks for the information on "Little Joe" - I had no idea he had a name!

[@garyhart7449]

Nice collection from here in Corning, Kevin!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks so much, Gary! Hope all is well in Corning!

[@H1X2N4]

I love restaurant china. There was also a 3-portion dinner plate to keep food separate.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

I have some of those plates - Thanks!

[@smokeydabeecharlescoleman8365]

19:00 in, looks like the Westinghouse crown, good coffee makers.

[@vallis1469]

"L K"...I'm wondering if this can't be dinnerware from L.K. Restaurants and Motels? They originated in Ohio, from what I gather. What a great selection of diner tableware. So much fun! Homer Laughlin is my very favorite.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Valli - I don't remember L.K. restaurants and motels - not sure if we had them here in Michigan or maybe I never noticed. But I'll bet that where those bowls are from! Thanks so much!!

[@mariasmargiassi1983]

Love love your videos🙂

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you, Maria!

[@powerlinekid4296]

Another great video. According to my time machine, there was three Holden's Drive Inn locations in Detroit. 12700 Warren Ave, 18381 Wyoming Ave, and 13812 Grand River Ave. Shenango China has an amazing history, especially making White House state service sets.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, PLK! Another viewer said there were Holden's in Oklahoma - I don't recall the ones in Detroit growing up, but it was probably before my time.

[@powerlinekid4296]

@@cavalcadeoffood found an ad "CURB service girls wanted. 18 years old or over." In the Detroit Evening Times, from Friday, August 21, 1942.

[@windingroad9678]

Hi Kevin, love your show. LK was a chain of fast food restaurants started in Marion Ohio in the 70s. Just Google it for you. I always loved the sturdiness of restaurant china. I didn't know you had a radio show too. Cool!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks so much, windingroad! I thought LK was a chain, but had no idea where it was from - thanks for the good information!

[@rhiannoncrim5655]

I had a huge box of Walker restaurant China with gold trim. Me and my ex were looking for special occasion dishes when I saw them in a consignment shop. Since they weren't holiday specific I figured they would be great for any special occasion. My ex suspected due to quantity that they were from a restaurant. I do notice they were heavier then my current Noritake Melissa china. I sadly lost the walker dishes in a house fire hence the current replacement china

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Rhiannon - I'll bet that Walker china was nice. That was very strong and sturdy dishware made to hold up well. Thanks!

[@faridajackson]

*hi, did you happen to find out what the green china pattern is from the thumbnail photo please? thank you if anyone knows more about it*

[@tonikimmel1390]

I lived in New Castle PA, and somehow the spelling is incorrect in this video. Correct is Shenango. Pronounced She-nang-0. My grandmother had two formal dining china patterns, both service for 12, and I believe from late 40's - early 50's. I enjoy your videos Kevin, and have even made some of your recipes. Most favored so far are the Butter Biscuits!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Toni! Thanks for the correction on Shenango! Glad you enjoy the videos - and the butter biscuits!

[@bethmueller5743]

The tall mug is for the Marriott Hotel. I found it in my Restaurant China book.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you, Beth! Good to know - looking at the design, Marriott makes sense. Thanks!

[@nurmaybooba]

I was given as a wedding gift (35 years ago) a set for 2... plate, cup /saucer. bowl from the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Park by my uncle who was the hotel manager for decades....Very special gift since I spent lots of time there. Impossible to fine or very rare even on Ebay....was a long time ago. I like restaurant china and could collect it but ....no space and limited time ahead of me

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Nora - what a wonderful gift from your uncle and a great keepsake! Thanks!

[@vincentsorletti6017]

On. The subject of sears restaurants Also, department stores called boscov's Had restaurants in their department stores as well.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Vincent! I loved restaurants in dept. stores!

[@SandraNevins-c3l]

I remember that my mom said that the logo on plate had to be 'front and center' when served to customers.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

I'm sure that was the rule in many restaurants with custom-made china. Thanks!

[@rileycavanaugh6889]

💕💕💕Hey posted on a different video too but I didn’t know if you had a better chance of seeing my comment here!!!! but the push buttons on vintage GE stovetops go HI 2 3 LO WM. So what does that mean for the stovetop heat? Is Hi 1? Or is Lo 1 and it’s just out of order? Been debating with my friends about it as our vintage features it.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Riley - GE had a strange layout for the pushbuttons. The order of heat starts with HI and each button to the right takes the heat down gradually to WM. Thanks!

[@lenaweerailfan8162]

The bowl from the Catholic order actually has Czech or Slovak written on it. That "ž" letter isn't used in Polish.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@dawnelder9046]

My parents had glass mugs. Pure white. No idea where they got them from, but a lot of people seemed to have them. They were military, so maybe they were a Cannex buy.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Dawn - those white glass coffee mugs were very popular. Many of them were made by Fire King/Anchor Hocking. Thanks!

[@knitterscheidt]

well I'm glad the Polish Catholic Society used virtuous china! Just trying to represent Ralph.I grew up in New Jersey, possibly the diner capital of the world and the clanking sound of this heavy tableware was like cheerful background music. I always had a fondness for department store restaurants. How nice it was to take a break and stop for lunch at Sears, Macy's, Lord & Taylor or even Woolworth's. As a kid I just loved the bubbling orange drink machine there.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

LOL - I'm sure those Polish ladies would have nothing but virtuous! I also miss those department store restaurants. They provided a nice place to sit down and relax. Thanks!

[@johnhpalmer6098]

Unless mistaken, the Pyrex platter from Waffle House looks to be late Pyrex as it's the rectangular style that I think they began to use as far back as 40+ years ago. I have 4 blue ramekins in oval that have that newer style logo on them. My Mom bought them nearly new at I think an estate sale and kept two, I got two, but when she passed away in 2012, I brought home the other two so have all four. They make perfect dishes for butter. BTW, the small plates are also used for salads. They can also be used as breakfast plates if you want. Perfect for toast too.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, John! Those ramekins come in handy for all kinds of things - enjoy the set you have!

[@ellenachavez6492]

Do you have any Tiara dishes? Or any type item from tiara?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Ellen - sorry, I don't have anything from Tiara. Thanks!

[@lenaweerailfan8162]

Do you have anything from Michigan icons Bill Knapps or J.L. Hudson? Do you have any railroad china?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi - no china from Bill Knapps or Hudson's and I don't have any railroad china. Thanks!

[@britgirlRN1973]

We had an L&K restaurant in Medina, Ohio.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thank you, Beverley for the information. I don't think we had these restaurants here in Michigan.

[@mrruggles7587]

Do you have any Hall china ?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

I have only a few pieces of Hall, not much. It's great old china - I often see it around. Thanks!

[@vincentsorletti6017]

L. K. Was a hotel and restaurant chain in Ohio I'm still trying to find out what the l and k stands for.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Nice to know it was based in Ohio. Thanks!

[@susanpaulson9010]

Any dishes from Woolworths?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

No, Susan. I'd love to find some one day!

[@susanpaulson9010]

@@cavalcadeoffood Howard Johnson’s! Thinking they had a specific style?

[@susanpaulson9010]

@@cavalcadeoffood if I see any I will let you know

[@kimworkman2425]

We used to have l & k restaurants in Ohio in the 70's

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks for letting me know!

[@xjAlbert]

Thanks for the great tour of Americana, Kevin! It sparks the imagination to think of where those plates have been and the people who've had a meal from them. In Alexandria, VA, neither Sears nor Montgomery Ward had food service, but we loved shopping at both. In Manhattan, there's a housewares store with test-fired sample china for many non-chain restaurants. It's fascinating to see handwritten number codes for colors & patterns permanently fired under the top clear glaze. That store's called Fishs Eddy, but they don't seem to list the unique sample china on their website. Lunchtime now-- I'll have the Blue Plate Special ʕ•́؈•̀ʔ

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Albert - one Blue Plate Special coming up! I'll have to look into Fishs Eddy, sound like an interesting and fun housewares store! I remember a diner at one of the Sears stores, but I don't remember one at Ward's although I seem to recall they had a counter where they sold candy, nuts, etc. Thanks!

[@xjAlbert]

@@cavalcadeoffood - Sear’s Candy Counter was a must for every visit 😋 Looking forward to whatever video you & the crew cook up next!