Phil's Bar-B-Q (Demolished)
St Louis, MO
Photo courtesy Dennis Dixson

The cheerful pig on the sign at Phil’s Bar-B-Q gave this St. Louis restaurant a memorable roadside welcome. Freshly cleaned and repainted when this photograph was taken, the marquee looked ready for another long run. Its cartoon character was as much a part of the restaurant’s appearance as the barbecue advertised below. 12-05

Phil Polizzi began selling watermelons in the 1950s before adding barbecue and opening the restaurant in 1961. Pork steaks, fried jack salmon, spaghetti, and cherry crumb pie became favorites. The sign originally advertised the Stumble Inn tavern with a cartoon pig. Phil replaced it with his own mustached likeness in a chef’s hat, before the pig returned during the 2005 refurbishment.

UPDATE: Phil’s closed at the end of 2018 after more than 57 years in business. The restaurant was subsequently demolished, and the pig sign was removed. 07-26

Denver Grill (Demolished)
Tulsa, OK
Photo courtesy Chris King

The Denver Grill was nearing its final days when this photograph captured the longtime Tulsa diner. Dating to 1933, the restaurant had served downtown for more than 70 years before plans for a new arena brought its run to an end. It wasn’t fancy, but the building had plenty of history—and a sign worth stopping to admire.

The restaurant moved into this location in 1955, becoming a familiar stop for downtown workers and late-night customers. Outside, the colorful starburst marquee looked like a firework frozen in midair. Together with the mural on the building’s side, it gave the diner a distinctive appearance that stood out among downtown storefronts.

UPDATE: The property was acquired through eminent domain, and Denver Grill closed in November 2004. Demolition followed to make way for the BOK Center. The restaurant, mural, and starburst marquee are gone, leaving photographs as reminders of a downtown gathering place with an especially memorable neon welcome. 07-26

Rochelle Beacon (Gone)
Rochelle, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

The roadside marquee at Beacon Restaurant in Rochelle offered a tempting invitation to stop for dinner along Route 38. Steaks were the specialty, but the sign had an appeal of its own. It was the kind of restaurant advertisement that made you curious about what waited beyond the parking lot.

A major remodeling in 1954 helped establish the Beacon as a favorite local dinner destination. Before the steaks arrived, customers enjoyed a relish tray with vegetables, cheese spread, and the restaurant’s well-remembered bean salad. Those familiar extras became part of the experience, giving regulars something to anticipate before they even ordered their main course.

UPDATE: The Beacon has permanently closed, and both its building and roadside marquee are gone. Its menu has proved harder to forget: local restaurants have occasionally offered tribute dinners featuring Beacon favorites. The sign no longer welcomes travelers, but the remembered steak dinners and bean salad still bring people together. 07-26

Steer-In
Indianapolis, IN
Photo courtesy Emily Steele

The Steer-In in Indianapolis has the comfortable appearance of a restaurant that has served generations of regulars. Its modest sign and surviving drive-in canopy offer clues to the building’s earlier days, when customers could enjoy a meal without leaving their cars. There’s still plenty of roadside character here, even with the additions made over the years.

The property began as a frozen custard stand in the early 1930s and adopted the Steer-In name in 1960. Dining-room expansions eventually replaced carhop service, while burgers, breaded pork tenderloins, homemade pies, and beef and noodles kept customers returning. Peyton Manning filmed a MasterCard commercial here, and the restaurant also appeared on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

UPDATE: Steer-In remains open on Indianapolis’ east side. Although carhop service ended years ago, part of the original canopy survives alongside the expanded restaurant. The building continues its long dining tradition while keeping visible reminders of its drive-in past. 07-26

Nicol's Restaurant (Gone)
Zanesville, OH
Photo courtesy Tony Craig

The ice cream cone atop the sign at Nicol’s Restaurant made dessert look like a good reason to stop in Zanesville. The restaurant’s familiar mid-century appearance and old-fashioned soda fountain offered plenty of appeal beyond the menu. It was the kind of place where a sundae at the counter could become the highlight of a road trip. 03-06

Opened in 1947, Nicol’s spent 70 years serving home-cooked meals, fresh-baked rolls, pies, doughnuts, and homemade ice cream. The soda shop remained a favorite feature, giving customers a place to linger over shakes and sundaes. Outside, the colorful cone sign suited the restaurant perfectly, announcing a sweet finish to whatever meal brought you inside.

UPDATE: Nicol’s closed in 2017, and the building was later renovated into an event venue. Its ice cream cone sign was removed and sold to a private collector. 07-26