Embark on a journey to explore the captivating charm of American restaurants in the late 1950s and ’60s, depicted through alluring postcards that encapsulate the unique ambiance of that era_h1

By the end of the 1950s, casual dining prevails, both at home and in public, yet interest in new dining experiences, luxury, and exotic cuisines is apparent. The restaurant industry looks forward to a bright future.

During the 1960s, Americans grew wealthier, traveled more, and demanded more exotic cuisine. Yet there were few trained restaurant cooks. Convenience food offered the solution for many restaurants as the decade wore on.

In other developments, old restaurant formats such as automats, diners, cafeterias, and drive-ins disappeared or shrank drastically in numbers. Fast food and dinner house chains, relatively scarce at the beginning of the decade, flourished by its end.

These amazing postcards from Ryan Khatam that show outside of American restaurants in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Arizona. Helsing’s Restaurant, Phoenix
Arizona. Huck Finns Restaurant, Phoenix
California. Chucks Pancake House, Placerville
California. Cliff House and Seal Rocks, San Francisco
California. Exposition No. 1 Restaurant, Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco
California. Hody’s Restaurant Coffee Shop, North Hollywood
California. Keefer’s Highway Restaurant, King City
California. Ship Ahoy Sea Food Restaurant, Santa Cruz
California. Sno-White Drive-In, Modesto
Connecticut. D’andrea’s 3 Acres Drive-In, Woodbridge
Florida. Doumar’s Drive-In Restaurant, Fort Lauderdale
Florida. Parham’s Restaurant, Miami Beach
Florida. Soret’s Restaurant, Riviera Beach
Florida. The Brahma Restaurant, Ocala
Georgia. C & J Restaurant, Claxton
Georgia. Crews Restaurant, Brunswick
Georgia. Green Turtle Restaurant, Valdosta
Georgia. Mrs. Bryant’s Kitchen, Statesboro
Georgia. Mrs. Rogers Restaurant, Claxton
Georgia. Ranch House Restaurants, Atlanta
Illinois. Bel Air Restaurant, Greenville
Illinois. The Escape Restaurant, Berwyn
Indiana. A&w Family Restaurant, North Vernon
Kansas. Thomas Cafeteria, Kansas City
Kentucky. Bun Boy Restaurant, East Main Street, Warsaw
Kentucky. Jolly’s Restaurant & Motel, Cave City
Maryland. Dutch Mill Farm Restaurant, Annapolis
Michigan. Penthouse Restaurant, Marie
Michigan. Sids on the River, Algonac
Michigan. Totem Pole Restaurant, Ironwood
Minnesota. Cassidys Gold Pine Restaurant & Motor Inn, Hinckley
Minnesota. Country Kitchen Restaurant, St Cloud
Minnesota. Nybo’s Cafe, Hiawatha Valley
Nevada. Joe Mackie’s New Star Broiler & Casino, Winnemucca
Nevada. Sills Drive-In Restaurant, Las Vegas
New Jersey. Hackney’s Seafood Restaurant, Atlantic City
New Mexico. Blackie’s Place, Moriarty
New Mexico. Chinese Dragon Restaurant, Alamgordo
New Mexico. Leonard’s Fine Foods, Albuquerque
New Mexico. Travelers Motel & Cocktail Lounge, Artesia
New York. Corner House Restaurant
North Carolina. Pizza Hut, Fayetteville
Ohio. Chal’s Drive-In Restaurant Cambridge
Oklahoma. The Mark Restaurant, Weatherford
Oregon. Keg & Platter Restaurant, Salem
Oregon. Recreation Cafe Coffee Shop, The Dalles
Oregon. The Anchor, Newport
Oregon. Waddle’s Coffee Shop, Portland
South Carolina. Hotel Sarsfield and Coffee Shop, Camden
South Carolina. Kentucky Fried Chicken, Orangeburg
South Carolina. Midway Diner, Pee Dee
South Carolina. South of the Border Pedros Restaurant, Dillon
Texas. Jet Drive-In, Austin
Texas. New Braunfels Smokehouse
Texas. Sheraton Kings Inn, Houston
Texas. Underwoods Bar-B-Q, Amarillo
Utah. Flying M Cafe, Panguitch
Utah. Harmans Millstream Cafe & Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ogden
Utah. Mickelson’s Cafe, Nephi
Washington. Bart’s Charcoal Broiler, Longview
Wyoming. Sands Cafe Rock, Springs

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