Bonanza Steakhouse STILL exists!!! 

My father owned a Bonanza steakhouse in upstate New York in the seventies. What great memories . Thank you for this video! RIP Dad . Miss you. I will definitely visit this Bonanza and bring my children .

My parents used to take us to Ponderosa all the time, I can still remember that flame broiled smell when you walk in.

Fun video! We watched this live on my Twitch stream. We're all Bonanza fans! I used to go to the one in St Cloud, MN all the time.

Wow, thank you for taking me back on such great childhood memories! 😊 #nostalgia #goodtimes

This town needs a Blockbuster

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Lol a literal animal with the ranch dripped on the salad bar, then a generous amount of salt & pepper on that salad!

I feel your excitement brother! I loved Bonanza Steakhouse when I was a kid. I had all the memories watching this video! Wish there were more around!

"I tell you, this steak still has marks where the jockey was hitting it!"

There were 600ish Old Country/HomeTown Buffet's during their peak of 2006, and followed the same decline- now they've all closed, but at one point Old Country Buffet and HomeTown Buffet were operating restaurants. Sad to see all these 80's and 90's popular restaurants gone.

I grew up dirt poor so it was a rare treat to go to a restaurant. Bonanza was the usual pick and I have some real nostalgia about it. I remember loving the Swedish meatballs in gravy they had on the salad bar buffet. They used to also have specials offering all-you-can-eat shrimp. Eating as much as you want of good food when you're poor is like mana from heaven!

Remember the heavy dark wooden tables and benches back in the 70s

I stopped at an Arby's somewhere in the back country in Pennsylvania a few years ago. They were still calling orders back to the kitchen using the microphone attached to the counter

I’ve been to that location several times. Unfortunately they are closing at the end of the month, as they cannot survive the COVID-19. It is a great place to eat, however, to me it is more like the late 80’s Ponderosa/Bonanza than the classic Bonanza I used to love in the 70’s. The old Bonanza restaurants were shaped like a barn somewhat, had big wooden doors in the front and the word “BONANZA” in big western typeface above the door. The inside vibe was very western, as well. Branding irons, wagon wheels, animal skins on the walls, I think in the 80’s (which was when our local Bonanza closed) they rebranded and tried to get away from that western look (new logo, more modern building). Also, a few subtle differences in the food itself. They used to put a sprig of parsley on the plate and you’d get a thick piece of Texas Toast as well, neither of which they do anymore. Also, the soup, desert, and veggies were part of the “lunch line” procedure, the salad bar only had salad fixins, no chicken wings, mac and cheese, etc. But, even though it was more like an 80’s Bonanza than a 70’s Bonanza, it was still a fun part of my yearly trips up to Saco and I will miss it a lot..

You look like a young Stephen Colbert. Great video. I don’t think I ever went to a Bonanza steak house as a kid, I was born in 1962, so I think they would’ve been around when I was a kid (live in NYC). We had something called Steak Loft back in the 1970s & 1980s, and it seems pretty similar. Also Beefsteak Charlie’s.

Bonanza still exists?! I am shooketh! I love that they kept a lot of it the same, so nostalgic ❤ only thing missing is the window that had the sweet corn on a stick 😂 oh and the big block of cheese at the salad bar that you'd slice yourself. I spent a LOT of time in my childhood in the 80's at Bonanza. Loved growing up in the 80's, a much simpler time!

You know The Last Blockbuster in Oregon still uses an MS-DOS IBM computer from the early 90s.

I am eating one of their signature burgers right now Excellent ❤.

That was getting a good steak back in the day I sure do miss them too wish we had more than just eight left

Dude this bring back memories

Last time I went to a Bonanza Steak House was in Fargo ND in June of 1995. Our Bonanza closed in East Peoria IL December 1987.

Absolutely loved the fried chicken livers from there when I was growing up.

When I was a kid they had a big block of cheese, tacos, and an ice cream bar.

I loved the steakhouses in the 70s. Ponderosa, Sizzler and others. Bonanza was a favorite always.

Quite ironic that this is in Sanford Maine. And this is a Bush #41-era restaurant and it is not far from the Bush compound in Kennebunkport.

When I was a kid I went to Bonanza steakhouse in Joplin Missouri in 1980s and 1990s

That was so much fun. I miss the old days..soup or salad, entree and dessert

When i was a teenager I worked at a couple Bonanzas. Fun fact, Bonanza cheese on the salad bar was imitation. So was the egg :) But daaaaang those steaks were good. I have a lotta good memories working there. Definitely a great job for a teenager

We used to eat at this particular location all the time. Haven’t been there in about 15 years, and I need to go back soon. The location that was in South Portland Maine, I fell in their parking lot when I was 2, and I now have a scar just to the side of my nose.

Thanks for being such a good narrator. You made me feel like driving all the way from Denver just to eat there.

I miss it so much. I’m from Gary Indiana and we had one in the Miller area. 🥲🥲🥲

Worked there in 1973. My location was the barn style with orange roof. Tues. night dinner specials: chopped sirloin 1.99, ribeye 2.99. One single file line that reached the outside of the perimeter of the building. No self service drink lines tho..lol this place as well as our local ponderosa provided lots of jobs for highschool kids. Also no rolls just fabulous texas toast.

Nostalgia sure is expensive for what you get.

Thanks so much for this video! It brought back great memories of my dear parents taking me when I was a child. 😊😊😊

I love how tjey kept it the same!

We had one in Tampa, fl in the same shopping center with a woolco and Winn dixie. all gone now. apple bee's is where Bonanza used to be. it was the first ( non fast food ) restaurant i remember going to. this was the 70's. don't remember it being open in the 80's. i heard there was another one in north side of Tampa also.

First time I ever had steak as a kid was at Bonanza Steakhouse in Athens,GA. I remember there were pictures all over the place of the Cartwrights from the TV show "Bonanza". We usually went on Friday night as a treat.

Loved our Bonanza Steakhouse on Diamond Ave Evansville, IN. With this one I'm going back to 1975. I remember how it takes you back to nature no computers till early '80's and looked like the one your in! But the food looked exactly the same. Building still there. A barn shape but really big. A treat for us to go out then. I was 11. I got the steak then small sirloin always well done juicy the best steak!!! baked potato, green beans. It was a sit down resteraunt no salad bar yet. I miss it. Everytime I pass that building I see the Bonanza sign and it on the front of the building. Really great food!

OMG the memories!!

Thank you sir for this nostalgic trip back into my youth as I was a frequent visitor to Bonanza Steak House here in Columbus, Ohio during my teens and twenties, which would be in the 1970's & 80's. My particular location used to stand at Main St. and McNaughton Road on the Reynoldsburg--Columbus line beside I-270. It closed sometime in the mid-1990's. I believe. Great food and the salad bar was such a bonus for me! The place was a particularly favorite place for my High School lover-girl, Donna, and I. Many a good dinner was eaten there! Ironically, Mr. Beantown, I looked up this location and you literally enjoyed one of the final meals served as the location closed permanently after 35 years on June 30, 2020 because of the pandemic.

Wow thank you for the trip down memory lane. Looks like we need a trip to Maine. I have such fond memories of this place. Thank you again.

We had Ponderosa in the Midwest went there alot as a kid I miss it it was really good when they focused on just steak and the salad bar it went downhill when they focused more on buffets

Bonanza was my first job in 1976 St. Clair Shores MI

My late father's first job was at Bonanza Steakhouse.

Something that sounds so Texas and Western, Ponderosa and Bonanza, and the only ones left are in the Northeast and Midwest. Crazy...

Childhood memories unlocked. Thank you

I wonder if Bush #41 and Mrs. Bush ate there. They had a place in nearby Kennebunkport.

We had one in High Point NC use to love it

We had one in Dayton Ohio and a ponderosa a block away I was always a bonanza guy didn't find out until I was an adult that they were the same company

Awesome! what a blast from the past!

When I was 16 I worked for bonanza started at dishes. Tuesday night special 6 oz sirloin bowl with salad Texas toast baked potato one of the best jobs I've ever had. Worked there for 10 years into management. My favorite job was cooking steaks.

Sadly the Sanford ME Bonanza has now permanently closed.

Wow I thought they all closed. My first job as a teenager was waiting tables at a Bonanza steak house. My favorite thing to eat there was the steak tips and the rolls.

I used to go to Ponderosa in the 80’s a lot. Hard to find today

BONANZA!!! You looked sooo happy about the steak sauce! 🤣😂

My friend's family took me with them to our local Bonanza Steakhouse in Sunnybank, Brisbane, Australia every so often. I loved it. This is back in the late 70s when I was about 10 years old. I would order a huge hotdog and was always blown away by the size of it. It closed long ago. One wouldn't be popular there now. Sunnybank is filled with Chinese and Hong Kongese immigrants.

This was probably one of the latter one's built, Older ones were a Barn shaped building and a lot bigger, The one where I live here in Baytown Texas closed around 1986-87, Building is still there it's a Pawnshop now :(

Bonanza rules!

Yaaaaas! There was a Bananza in hometown of Texarkana, Texas. I ate there when I was a kid all the time I’m Shocked that a few STILL exist! The interior of ours was slightly different but same concept with the ticket and the trays and salad bar and stuff. This bring back good memories of having dinner with my parents.

I used to work at the one on sawmill road in West Haven, Connecticut 1985 thru 1987.

Wow!! It still looks the same!!

Why so rough with them tongs at the salad bar lol

Didn't know there were any left ! It was dad's favorite!

We use to have a Bonanza here in Augusta, Maine years ago that was absolutely incredible! I don't know why they went out of business. I loved their buffet, and use to order their N.Y. Sorloin Tips with a Salad. Another great place to dine is at "The Old Country Buffet" in Portland, Maine.

There are 5 locations in Puerto Rico still, so there are actually 13 left in the US.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Wish there were still some in Louisiana.

Wow!!!! There used 2 be one Lancaster, Texas back when I was a kid!!!!. It was off I-35 & Pleasant Run Road along the service road. I used to live in the neighborhood that was behind the restaurant. The building was in the shape of a barn. It was red with white trim. I'm very surprised that they still exist!!!!

Great video, but back in the 80's NOBODY had to worry about being video recorded everywhere they go, nothing seems to be off limits these days.

We need a Bonanza Steakhouse in Albany, NY! (We had a Ponderosa years ago.)

The bonanza we had in Danville V.A. was designed like a barn. We loved that place. Hated it when it closed.

We had several in Texas the two closest to me closed and are now occupied by pawn shops .

You made such a mess getting your salad dressing lol

You didn't mention the big chunk of Texas Toast you'd get with it. Yes I did like Bonanza. I understand that it was originally founded by Dan Blocker. We'd go as a family when I was a child and it was a treat and a nice time for all. thanks for the video. I enjoyed watching this video like stepping back in time, except for the prices.

loved that place / always cooked to order . no problems ,, great atmosphere . miss it !!!!

I've been to the Bonanza Steakhouse out in Chambersburg PA. And there are very few Ponderosas left as well. In Ohio where I'm from there is one in Carrollton, and another in Calcutta

Dickinson nd used to have one but i didn't get to go😢 Butttttt i am building one out of paper and card bord!

just like I remember it back in the day, we'd go on a Wednesday when they had the $3.99 buffet and $4.99 sirloin steak and buffet deals, if it was 4 of us, we'd order 2 steaks and 2 buffets, and each would share one of the steaks between two of us. Sad COVID probably killed these few locations left.

Ours in St Cloud MN is closing at the end of October

Well Done, Beantown! [yes, a poorly cooked steakhouse pun] ... You preserved a bit of Americana with this video. Sadly, this location closed down permanently on June 30, 2020, due to Covid, a mere FOUR MONTHS after your visit. Just in the nick of time. Great work :~) ... At time of writing, Google Maps is only showing 5 remaining locations left. Covid must have claimed 3 of them since you uploaded this vid :~(

Only 2 of the original buildings still exist here today, 1 a sports bar and the other a BBQ restaurant. 3 other restaurants failed at the BBQ location after Bonanza.

Thanks so much for this video !

And now there are 4....3 in PA and 1 in VA

LOVE Bonanza!

next vid: OG dine in style Pizza Hut

I worked a chain of 7 Bonanzas for a few years in the late 80s. Some of the best times of my life. Thanks!

Oh my God we had a ponderosa steakhouse growing up and they turned it into an apple bees many years ago.

Think u got enough ranch on the bar?

Sad, is showing that location you went to is now closed. Now 4 are left 3 in PA and 1 in VA.

I typically go to one about 2.5 hours away from me

Should have gotten the chicken Monterey!!!!

19 in pr

I worked at Bonanza in New Westminster BC CAN. in early 90's. Our Set up was you picked up your tray picked up your drink (Me) and ordered what you wanted at the cashier. we didn't have Salad bar till my second year in.

0:36 8 is less than 10? Whoa. I'm gonna need some time to process that. Regardless, thank you for the review!

I wonder if they know people go out of their way to visit. I know I do! I've been to Bonanzas and Ponderosas all over. I even took my life in my hands to go to Gary, Indiana to visit one.

Hi new sub here 🤗

In Puerto Rico there are three Bonanza restaurants

Dan Blocker started the chain as I recall.

Yeah, but doesn't taste anywhere close to the same as the 70's ones did. Nothing really does anymore that still exist.

We had one in Iowa for 40 years. The pandemic made its way with it sadly.

I miss York Steak House

😳