Smoke House
Burbank, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
The Smoke House is one of the last of the steak-and-prime
rib restaurants. All its counterparts such as Chadney's, Tail o' the Cock
and Chadney's have become history. The Smoke House opened
in 1946 by three engineers from Lockheed and has fed Lockheed executives
and nearby Warner Bros. studio for decades. The Smoke House occupied the current building iin 1949, which is where the Red Coach Inn once stood. See more at the Smoke House website.
Love's Bar B Q (Closed)
Orange, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
The familiar lettering at Love’s Bar B Q in Orange offered a welcome invitation to anyone whose dinner plans involved ribs and a generous supply of napkins. Once a common sight around Southern California, the Love’s name belonged to an era when bold restaurant lettering could settle the question of where to eat.
The chain’s roots go back to 1948 in Encino, before Love’s spread across California and beyond. Ribs, chicken, sandwiches, and barbecue beans helped make it a familiar family dinner stop. Apparently getting sauce on your fingers was part of the arrangement.
Love's Bar B Q (Closed)
Orange, CA Photo courtesy Adriene Biondo
For roadside enthusiasts, the attraction began before reaching the door. The distinctive lettering gave Love’s an identity that could be recognized from a passing car, especially after dark. A glowing restaurant name and the promise of barbecue made a fairly persuasive combination.
Love’s occupied that comfortable middle ground between a neighborhood favorite and a familiar chain. Travelers could recognize the name in another town, while regular customers had their own nearby location. As the restaurants disappeared, those once-common signs became reminders of family dinners, smoky barbecue, and meals that required a little extra cleanup.
UPDATE: The Orange Love’s has closed, joining the chain’s departed Southern California restaurants. Its familiar lettering recalls a time when finding dinner often began with spotting the right sign. 10-26
Frank's Restaurant (Closed)
Burbank, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Check out the sweeping roof at Frank’s Restaurant in Burbank. The canopy stretches over the dining area with considerably more enthusiasm than the average restaurant roof. Along Olive Avenue, this coffee shop had a roadside introduction worth noticing. 10-05
Frank’s also found work in Hollywood. Tom Hanks’ character eats and works here in Larry Crowne (2011), with Julia Roberts sharing a scene. CSI, 90210, and Sons of Anarchy also filmed at the restaurant. Apparently that roof knew how to get into the picture.
After closing in March 2012 under former Genio’s chef Jose Lopez, Frank’s reopened a few months later when the property owner took over.
UPDATE: Frank's Restaurant closed down in March 2012. The owner Jose Lopez, who was the head chef at the nearby Genio's which also shut down 5 years ago, had to shut down due to the poor economy and an impending rent increase. A few months later, Frank's reopened after the property owner took over ownership of the restaurant. Today, Frank's still serves hungry patrons of Burbank. 06-13
UPDATE: Frank’s later stopped regular restaurant service. The building remains at 916 W. Olive Avenue and is used for filming, giving the familiar coffee shop another way to stay busy. 10-26
The Golden Spur (Gone)
Glendora, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
A giant cowboy boot made The Golden Spur Restaurant difficult to overlook along Route 66 in Glendora. Here was a restaurant that could advertise its Western character without waiting for anyone to step inside. Hungry motorists got the message, and sign hunters had a reason to pull over even if dinner was still several miles away. 11-05
The landmark sign dated to 1954. Its lighting changed from neon to LED in 2017, shortly before the restaurant closed in 2018. Fortunately, the boot escaped the fate of many oversized roadside advertisements. Easterseals purchased the property in 2019, and the restaurant building was remodeled for a new use.
UPDATE: Easterseals operates an Adult Day Services center at 1223 E. Route 66. The Golden Spur boot survives at ground level with updated lighting, although the former “Restaurant” and “Cocktails” panels are gone. Quite a retirement for a boot that spent decades towering over dinner traffic. 10-26
Chadney's (Closed)
Burbank, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The rooftop lettering at Chadney’s once announced a familiar gathering place across from NBC’s Burbank studios. Steaks, drinks, and live jazz kept the evening moving after the studio workday ended. 10-05
During the 1970s and 1980s, studio employees mixed with recognizable visitors including Johnny Carson and Bob Hope. Apparently crossing the street offered a convenient way to leave work without getting too far from the entertainment crowd.
Chadney’s closed in December 1998 after its kitchen ceiling collapsed. The building found another life as Casa Cabo, whose renovation retained the brick interior and adapted the old sign for its new name.
UPDATE: The former Chadney’s property at 3000 W. Olive Avenue later housed Simmzy’s and now operates as Brews Brothers Brewpub. Dinner and drinks continue at the old address, although the Chadney’s name has departed. 10-26
The Derby
Arcadia, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The parking lot sign at The Derby in Arcadia points toward a restaurant with a winning horse-racing connection. Originally Proctor Tavern in 1922, it moved to Huntington Drive in 1931. Jockey George Woolf became co-owner with Bill Peterson in 1938, the same year he rode Seabiscuit to victory over War Admiral. 11-05
Racing memorabilia helped make the restaurant a gathering place for jockeys and fans. Dinner came with plenty of track history, without requiring a winning ticket.
There’s a ghost connection, too. Woolf was fatally injured at Santa Anita in January 1946, and The Derby’s own history mentions the belief that his spirit watches over the restaurant. Still checking on the dining room? Quite a dedicated co-owner.
UPDATE: The Derby remains open at 233 E. Huntington Drive. Redevelopment is planned, with a temporary restaurant location intended during construction. No construction start date is currently listed on its website. 10-26
Love's Bar B Q (Closed)
Love's Bar B Q (Closed)
Frank's Restaurant (Closed)
A giant cowboy boot made 
Chadney's (Closed)
