Richards Restaurant

This place is GONE.

Let's face it. When you say to yourself, "Man, I'm jonesing for a fine steak, quality vegetables, in a chic atmosphere with great service", you're not talking about Richards.

Here's a more likely scenario: "Oh man, I'm hung over. Where can I go and get my grease on, pay no more than $6 for a breakfast, and be sure I'm not going to run into anyone I have to impress?"

That place, my friend, is Richards Family Restaurants.

With good ol' fashioned American Farm food on the menu (except for the listing on the back where they list the brands they "proudly serve", including Kraft Mac & Cheese) and no-frill servers and even no-friller patrons, the food is cheap, easy, and filling.

There's no reason not to get breakfast, and if you do that, make sure to get the special. The home fries are crispy and greasy, and they do the eggs any way you like (except, strangely, poached. Get them basted for a similar effect). And be sure to wash it down with endless coffee, served up semi-fresh in a cracked mug. And if you're trying to be healthy, or unable to digest gluten, like me, get a fruit cup with it. Your arteries will thank you for not trying to overtly murder them.

You're not going to have the best dining experience of your life here, "and," to quote Stuart Smalley, "that's okay." You're not going to bring a date here, unless it's the next morning and you have no cereal at your apartment.

But you are going to be grateful Richard's is still around to meet your needs in an inexpensive, low-key way. Be sure to thank them, and pledge your support to return, because 70% of their client base is going to be gone within the next 5 or 10 years.