Not anymore. It closed a couple years ago. Was empty for some time. It has just finished being remodeled and a medical clinic or such is set to open there.
My first job ever (paying job that is) was a dishwasher at this location. Ah, memories.
Yes there is a ponderosa still operating on rte 1 so attleboro mass I went there last yr was a dump the inside was dirty and outdated and food was no better i am surprised its still operating
My uncle was the manager at the Oaklawn Ave location for quite some time. He now owns Ed's Roost in East Greenwhich. Open for breakfast and lunch, BEST breakfast in the state!
This may come as a shock! But Ponderosa Steakhouses are STILL in business! I have provided a link to their Facebook page to check out! https://www.facebook.com/ponderosasteakhouse/
Awesome memories of going to Ponderosa. Loved the dessert bar as a kid of course. And eating hamburger with steak (A-1) sauce. I felt so grown up and fancy, lol.
Funny Story. My dad built and owned the building on Mineral spring ave for ponderosa in the 70's when it was brand new and leased the place to them for over 20 years. Then 99 then mozzarellas then we sold it to the greek guy who I believe just sold it and it got knocked down and a new building was built. But Small world I moved out to Indianapolis and one night I am having dinner in the kitchen of the Culinary Academy here with a group of people and the dean and head chef of the school Tony Hanslits is just cooking up a crazy storm of absolutely everything for us. I love to cook so I was standing by him at he stove watching all his technique and I asked him where he went to culinary school and he replied Johnson & Wales. I said wow I'm from RI and he said when he graduated his first cooking job was in the mid 70's at the Ponderosa on mineral spring ave. I started to laugh and said, well my dad owned that building ad we use to run in now and then and eat and the he probably had cooked for me when i was 10 years old or so and here he was again cooking for me in my 40's. Very Small World.
I think there may be one here out on the far east side of Indianapolis. I don't think I could say I would eat there again!! LOL
I am the killer of Cranston's Ponderosa, maybe, in an act of self defense, circa 2000.
At the time, I favored buffet dining when I had a night job far from home. I needed the middle ground between drive-up fast food, which I abhor, and full service casual, for which I lacked both the luxury of time and the cash for tips. For months I was a weekly regular at Ponderosa and rival Hometown Buffet, then adjacent to Target at 1245 Bald Hill.
For the record, Hometown was superior in every way, including lighting, layout, upkeep, and food quality. The staff were friendly and well selected. Ponderosa reminded me more of a college cafeteria. It was showing its age, trying to hide its carpet grime under subdued lighting. Watching children react to the chocolate fountain and construct bizarre desserts was entertaining, but there was a drab overall tone, reflected by the staff.
Typically I'd enter Ponderosa within forty minutes of closing, often less, when there might be no more than a dozen patrons already seated. I didn't mind if someone ran an upright vacuum during my stay. Food service is inherently laborious and people need their sleep. Like anywhere else I've been at final hour, I was never hustled out, only gently informed of when service would end. One night I entered the place at maybe twenty minutes to closing, fully expecting time enough for one round of plate-loading and no hassle.
I was met with a blast wave of metal music at high volume, a partway darkened room, chairs out of place, empty serving pans, and two rumpled teenage boys gawking at me like I'd just sprouted an extra head. The pair were well into winding up shop for the night. We had a brief confusing exchange. The two boys smirked at me while insisting curtly that the place was closed. I gestured to the marquee sign outside, under the logo sign, which clearly stated the pending closing time in six inch letters. This argument did not sway them. They offered no apology or compensation for my natural confusion. I left to work my own late shift on an empty belly.
The next day I got on the phone to corporate headquarters. A very kind lady responded, sounding like a favorite Texan or Southeastern aunt. I first asked her if, upon entering one of their restaurants with less than a half hour to door lock, I had a reasonable expectation of being served. Without a pause to think, she said yes, telling me I should be welcome to the last minute. She sounded a little baffled that I'd even ask such a thing. I went on to recount my contradictory experience. Her demeanor turned to dismay and apology for the incident, and thanks for my input.
With that, I added Ponderosa to my "Never Return Even On a Bet" list and went on with life. A couple weeks later I returned home to a surprise phone message from some man claiming to be the manager at Oaklawn. He didn't say exactly what he wanted beyond a "chance to discuss", nor was he fully successful in hiding his distress. I never responded. I was a busy man and all done with Ponderosa and its snotty night crew.
A few weeks later I passed through Oaklawn Ave, probably stopping at old fave Athenean Deli, and noticed a vacuous look to that Ponderosa building. It had closed for good, and I don't recall that any "so long and thanks" notice was posted.
I've no illusion that four minutes of standoff with careless punks was enough to shutter the place. I do suspect it was enough to trigger an audit from the ranch owners, which may have found a pattern of brand-damaging behavior, and maybe kitchen secrets that would horrify my digestive tract. I also find it amusing how long the place sat empty until the tire shop moved in, and that no other restaurant has dared open there since.
My guy. You are seriously delusional. If this story is true, you should know that anyone who has worked in a restaurant, they hate ANYONE who walks in less than an hour before closing! Especially 20-30 mins! You waste the times of the employees because you feel you’re “obligated to be served.”
Bro you’re hindering their efforts by getting the place cleaned up, so they can get out and go home at a reasonable time. So yes, obviously the staff is going to be mad at you. They were already to put this stuff away and close down, making it a smoother closing process. Then you waltz in numerous times like royalty expecting prompt and friendly service.
When that doesn’t happen, because hey the f would it? You go and tattle on the workers to the head office. The out of touch rep you spoke to, probably hadn’t worked in a restaurant or customer service job either. If you were getting a to go order that would be different. But you were being an entitled patron of their establishment who wanted to be treated like a king for walking around like you were a franchise owner.
I also highly doubt you were the catalyst to them closing down. Many factors could have gone into that, maybe it wasn’t a profitable location, or the management sucked, or they couldn’t keep staff frequently. Even worse causes like mice and health department violations.
Not some high and mighty random dude who thinks Ponderosa is the same thing as your personal home kitchen. I seriously hope you’re not doing this anymore. Just know the staff talked copious amounts of crap about you as well. They all went into it the kitchen and said how much of an egotistical d-bag you were.
There was a Ponderosa on Diamond Hill Road in Woonsocket. The one in South Attleboro, MA, is still open!
ReplyDeleteNot anymore. It closed a couple years ago. Was empty for some time. It has just finished being remodeled and a medical clinic or such is set to open there.
DeleteMy first job ever (paying job that is) was a dishwasher at this location. Ah, memories.
But the all the RI locations are gone.
ReplyDeleteYes there is a ponderosa still operating on rte 1 so attleboro mass I went there last yr was a dump the inside was dirty and outdated and food was no better i am surprised its still operating
ReplyDeleteMy uncle was the manager at the Oaklawn Ave location for quite some time. He now owns Ed's Roost in East Greenwhich. Open for breakfast and lunch, BEST breakfast in the state!
ReplyDeleteI worked there in 95 thru 1999
DeleteMe too!
DeleteThis may come as a shock! But Ponderosa Steakhouses are STILL in business! I have provided a link to their Facebook page to check out! https://www.facebook.com/ponderosasteakhouse/
ReplyDeleteBut the nearest one appears to be in Rutland, Vermont, which makes them even rarer than an open Bickfords.
ReplyDeleteAtwood Ave. Johnston too. Place for ribs went there
ReplyDeleteAwesome memories of going to Ponderosa. Loved the dessert bar as a kid of course. And eating hamburger with steak (A-1) sauce. I felt so grown up and fancy, lol.
ReplyDeleteFunny Story. My dad built and owned the building on Mineral spring ave for ponderosa in the 70's when it was brand new and leased the place to them for over 20 years. Then 99 then mozzarellas then we sold it to the greek guy who I believe just sold it and it got knocked down and a new building was built. But Small world I moved out to Indianapolis and one night I am having dinner in the kitchen of the Culinary Academy here with a group of people and the dean and head chef of the school Tony Hanslits is just cooking up a crazy storm of absolutely everything for us. I love to cook so I was standing by him at he stove watching all his technique and I asked him where he went to culinary school and he replied Johnson & Wales. I said wow I'm from RI and he said when he graduated his first cooking job was in the mid 70's at the Ponderosa on mineral spring ave. I started to laugh and said, well my dad owned that building ad we use to run in now and then and eat and the he probably had cooked for me when i was 10 years old or so and here he was again cooking for me in my 40's. Very Small World.
ReplyDeleteI think there may be one here out on the far east side of Indianapolis. I don't think I could say I would eat there again!! LOL
Do they have a buffet there
DeleteAs a child, it was the best buffet place you could ask for. As an adult, I truly miss it.
ReplyDeleteas a kid i'd go to the oaklawn location and eat dozens of the mini tacos, it was basically a folded tortilla chip and it was amazing.
ReplyDeleteI am the killer of Cranston's Ponderosa, maybe, in an act of self defense, circa 2000.
ReplyDeleteAt the time, I favored buffet dining when I had a night job far from home. I needed the middle ground between drive-up fast food, which I abhor, and full service casual, for which I lacked both the luxury of time and the cash for tips. For months I was a weekly regular at Ponderosa and rival Hometown Buffet, then adjacent to Target at 1245 Bald Hill.
For the record, Hometown was superior in every way, including lighting, layout, upkeep, and food quality. The staff were friendly and well selected. Ponderosa reminded me more of a college cafeteria. It was showing its age, trying to hide its carpet grime under subdued lighting. Watching children react to the chocolate fountain and construct bizarre desserts was entertaining, but there was a drab overall tone, reflected by the staff.
Typically I'd enter Ponderosa within forty minutes of closing, often less, when there might be no more than a dozen patrons already seated. I didn't mind if someone ran an upright vacuum during my stay. Food service is inherently laborious and people need their sleep. Like anywhere else I've been at final hour, I was never hustled out, only gently informed of when service would end. One night I entered the place at maybe twenty minutes to closing, fully expecting time enough for one round of plate-loading and no hassle.
I was met with a blast wave of metal music at high volume, a partway darkened room, chairs out of place, empty serving pans, and two rumpled teenage boys gawking at me like I'd just sprouted an extra head. The pair were well into winding up shop for the night. We had a brief confusing exchange. The two boys smirked at me while insisting curtly that the place was closed. I gestured to the marquee sign outside, under the logo sign, which clearly stated the pending closing time in six inch letters. This argument did not sway them. They offered no apology or compensation for my natural confusion. I left to work my own late shift on an empty belly.
The next day I got on the phone to corporate headquarters. A very kind lady responded, sounding like a favorite Texan or Southeastern aunt. I first asked her if, upon entering one of their restaurants with less than a half hour to door lock, I had a reasonable expectation of being served. Without a pause to think, she said yes, telling me I should be welcome to the last minute. She sounded a little baffled that I'd even ask such a thing. I went on to recount my contradictory experience. Her demeanor turned to dismay and apology for the incident, and thanks for my input.
With that, I added Ponderosa to my "Never Return Even On a Bet" list and went on with life. A couple weeks later I returned home to a surprise phone message from some man claiming to be the manager at Oaklawn. He didn't say exactly what he wanted beyond a "chance to discuss", nor was he fully successful in hiding his distress. I never responded. I was a busy man and all done with Ponderosa and its snotty night crew.
A few weeks later I passed through Oaklawn Ave, probably stopping at old fave Athenean Deli, and noticed a vacuous look to that Ponderosa building. It had closed for good, and I don't recall that any "so long and thanks" notice was posted.
I've no illusion that four minutes of standoff with careless punks was enough to shutter the place. I do suspect it was enough to trigger an audit from the ranch owners, which may have found a pattern of brand-damaging behavior, and maybe kitchen secrets that would horrify my digestive tract. I also find it amusing how long the place sat empty until the tire shop moved in, and that no other restaurant has dared open there since.
My guy. You are seriously delusional. If this story is true, you should know that anyone who has worked in a restaurant, they hate ANYONE who walks in less than an hour before closing! Especially 20-30 mins! You waste the times of the employees because you feel you’re “obligated to be served.”
DeleteBro you’re hindering their efforts by getting the place cleaned up, so they can get out and go home at a reasonable time. So yes, obviously the staff is going to be mad at you. They were already to put this stuff away and close down, making it a smoother closing process. Then you waltz in numerous times like royalty expecting prompt and friendly service.
When that doesn’t happen, because hey the f would it? You go and tattle on the workers to the head office. The out of touch rep you spoke to, probably hadn’t worked in a restaurant or customer service job either. If you were getting a to go order that would be different. But you were being an entitled patron of their establishment who wanted to be treated like a king for walking around like you were a franchise owner.
I also highly doubt you were the catalyst to them closing down. Many factors could have gone into that, maybe it wasn’t a profitable location, or the management sucked, or they couldn’t keep staff frequently. Even worse causes like mice and health department violations.
Not some high and mighty random dude who thinks Ponderosa is the same thing as your personal home kitchen. I seriously hope you’re not doing this anymore. Just know the staff talked copious amounts of crap about you as well. They all went into it the kitchen and said how much of an egotistical d-bag you were.