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We love you, Big Daddy: our arrival at Ponderosa Steakhouse in Amsterdam, NY
Last night I did something that my friend Ed and I had been discussing on and off for some time: I recreated an enduring memory from my childhood and made the trek to Ponderosa Steakhouse.
Growing up in the Capital District, there were at least two that I was aware of: one across the street from Crossgates, and the one my family frequented in East Greenbush. I always looked forward to the trips, especially since for us they were few and far between.
In the last decade or so, the Ponderosa locations throughout the Capital Region disappeared. I had always assumed that the company had gone out of business, until a little over a year ago when Ed informed me that one still existed in Amsterdam, NY. After someone – I don’t remember who – made mention of it on Twitter, I snagged the opportunity to rope some others into the great, impossible dream Ed and I had clung onto for so long.
Attending were Hellions of Troy roller derby competitor and Times Union blogger Marcie Pry (alias “Short Temper”), local blogger Leigh Cummings, and local local (the aforementioned) Ed Lass. The four of us met in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood, piled into Ed’s car, and embarked on a forty-five minute drive to Amsterdam, New York, though it might be more appropriate to say that we went North on the Thruway and took the exit for our childhood.
We pulled into the parking lot and were pleasantly surprised to see that the lot was not only full, but featured a large ceramic bull in front that had been christened “Big Daddy.” Closer inspection revealed what I had initially suspected but dismissed out of notions of taste and common sense: the ceramic bull, which heralded your arrival at the family-friend buffet and steakhouse, was anatomically correct. What makes this more amazing is the idea that there was most probably a discussion that occurred as to whether or not the bull should be anatomically correct, and after this discussion it was decided that it would be best to err on the side of accuracy.
Marcie (left) and Leigh show Big Daddy some love.
After taking several pictures with the bull and marveling at its genitals , we went inside. One of the more exciting aspects of the trip was the knowledge that we had to place our order before we sat down, but after looking at the menu we realized something was amiss. The food was still relatively cheap, but some items seemed like they should be cheaper than others and vice-versa. Specifically, ordering an enhancement on an item actually made it cheaper.
We asked the manager, who walked over to the board and sighed.
“These kids,” he said. “You see what they keep doing to me?”
He then spent several minutes trying to locate the correct items and match them up with the correct prices. All four of us assisted, doing our best to guess what went where based on logistics and where numbers seemed like they would fit. What would be an irritant to others instead served as an amazing introduction to the place. It was almost like playing a showcase on “The Price is Right.”
“Oh, these kids,” the manager repeated ad nauseum.
We paid for our meal. All four of us kept it simple: we got the buffet. I walked through the restaurant and did some people-watching, and noticed that we were the only group in the entire restaurant that didn’t have small children with them. This didn’t escape the attention of the manager.
“You all from around here?” he asked.
“Albany,” Leigh responded. Her and Ed began chatting with the manager when I rudely and briskly interrupted them.
“Speak for yourself,” I said indignantly. “I’m from Troy.”
Leigh loved the food, and classed things up with a rose in her hair.
After some further conversation with the manager, we took our seats and engaged the buffet. Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting much, but I was still pleasantly surprised. I expected the kid-friendly food to be borderline intolerable, but it was actually quite pleasant. Not being a foodie, I won’t go into details, Leigh has a full review on her blog if you’re curious, and indeed, the cobbler was awesome.
Each of us had two full plates of food, which considering Marcie’s petite build was an impressive feat. I had worried about appearing like a glutton, but I suspect she could have eaten all of us under the table and did us a favor by not emasculating us with another trip after dessert.
We left and encountered various vending machines for toys and trinkets, as well as a prize crane featuring baseball caps. I spent two dollars trying to win the John Deer and the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. mesh caps, but to no avail. Ed was able to successfully retrieve a Philadelphia Eagles cap, which I opted not to go for out of the love and respect I hold for all God’s creatures. I then spent fifty cents on some Marvel comics stickers, which will absolutely go on the cover of my Macbook.
Goodbye, Big Daddy. Until next time.
When I got home, I slipped into a pair of sweats and reflected on the meal and the memories it brought forth. Nostalgia often betrays us. Things that we loved usually don’t hold up, owing both to the context of time and the reduced expectations of childhood. In an adult world that is wrought with disappointments and unmet expectations, I’m happy to say that Ponderosa is not one of them.
After reflecting, I set up my laptop to play the day’s podcasts from NPR and faded into a food coma that I did not awaken from until early this morning. I did not remember my dreams from that deep and comfortable sleep, though I am sure they included the wonderful memories that were re-awoken and nightmares of those damn kids re-arranging the menu magnets again.
LINKS
- Leigh’s blog – The Ballad of Big Daddy, the Anatomically Correct Bull
- Amsterdam Ponderosa website
- Like “Amsterdam Ponderosa” on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter: Kevin Marshall | Ed Lass | Leigh Cummings | Marcie Pry
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35 Responses to Memories, macaroni, and mesh baseball caps: Our trip to Ponderosa Steakhouse
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Any photos proving the anotomical correctness of the bull?
Tom - Unfortunately no; we didn’t notice that it was anatomically correct until after we took the pictures and for some reason it didn’t occur to us to take them. I definitely would not have kissed Big Daddy had I known.
I loved Ponderosa…it was THE place for family celebrations in my house growing up.
There was a Ponderosa on Route 9 in Latham. It is currently Kobe Buffet, and even has the external visage of what Ponderosa restaurants looked like (minus the painting of mountains and sky).
This sounds like it was a really fun time.
*whispers* His pee-pee had an icicle on it. :D
Leigh - *giggles*
I was plesently surprised that it wasn’t that bad last time I was there too. Why was I there? Ponderosa and Subway are tied for first place on the list of my grandmother’s favorite restaurants. Luckily there is one of each in Oneonta so if you want to check that one out, my gma would be happy to go with you.
I’m a little disappointed there’s no photographic evidence of the anatomical correct bull parts.
Bonanza beat Ponderosa to the punch in Poughkeepsie back in the ’60s. My Dad brought us down on opening weekend, and we got to see “rustlers” come in and do a “stickup.” Gosh, what fun. Better than checking plastic bull balls on a cold nite, that’s for sure.
Gman -
“Better than checking plastic bull balls on a cold nite”
That sounds like a genuine cattle-russler phrase.
I’d like to use this space to apologize to the Marcie Pry household — which, as I now understand it, favors the New York Football Giants — for sending her home with a Philadelphia Eagles hat. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for an easy win at the prize crane. Hopefully we can “pay it forward” til it finds an appreciative home… much like the dogs that Michael Vick once owned. (Too soon? I never know.)
I know where i’m going this weekend!
Ed- it’s never too soon! Although this is coming from someone who has a Ron Mexico jersey with Vick’s number for her 7 lb mutt to wear so…
Buffets are usually good (Golden Corral..which is like ponderossa) or bad Old Country (which the afore mentioned Big Daddy would pass on).
One of my favorite places we went when I was kid was Pizza Hut in Menands.I think it was the only one around. Something about large red,plastic cups filled with soda that brings me back.
OOh that pizza hut in Menands had a Pac-Man machine. I used to BEG for quarters to play. I was never allowed to eat at Ponderosa because my father got food poisoning there once. Boo.
I can’t remember a time I ever ate at a buffet and did not vacate my stomach by way of my mouth afterwards.. never an overconsumption thing, just a weird reaction, I guess I wasn’t built to handle so much culinary variety topped with a sundae of my own creation sadly..
Leave it to Amsterdam… Go Rams!!
Tony, I grew up in Menands and remember that fondly. I remember my dad “barrowing” one of those cups bc he hadn’t finished his drink. I thought he was the coolest outlaw ever, and that cup was still in our cabinet years later.
They used to have the best chicken wings.
They still do, Megan. They still do.
We grew up with Ponderosa on Long Island too. When i came up here i went to the EG one a few times. Too bad it never reopened after the big Super WalMart took over that space.
I can’t believe there’s still a Ponderosa around! I had friends in h.s. who worked at the one in Latham. I had my first chick peas there!
A.C. – “I had my first chick peas there!”
That totally reads like a euphemism for something else.
Please do not let the boys know there is still a Ponderosa around. I always disliked their steaks (tough) and chicken (overcooked), but the boys thought it was the nuts.
Jen mac-The Ponderosa in E.G. that the boys dragged us to was on Columbia Turnpike, near McDonalds. Was there one over by Walmart?
Those boots are as remarkable, (are they boots?), as the bull. Where did you get them?
Nostalgia’s great and all, but you were just up the road from the Raindancer! Ask Steve Barnes.
Yeah, Ponderosa. Which jarred loose the memories of Beefsteak Charlies – pitchers of beer, wine, or sangria & all you can eat peel for yourself shrimp.
Andrew - How long ago was Beefsteak Charlies? I’d never even heard of it.
(I’m not trying to make you feel old, I’m just curious. Old man.)
Ugh, Beefsteak Charlies. No extra charge for the lockjaw. Wasn’t that on Wolf Rd?
Kevin: Someday you too will be called Mr., and say “no, that’s my father”. :D
Let’s call the timeline on BFC’s 30+ years.
Andrew - As opposed to right now, where they call me “Mr.” and I say “that ain’t my baby” and I get dragged onto Maury to prove it.
Wait wait wait… you went to Ponderosa and didn’t have the ice cream buffet? That’s like going to the future and not bringing back a sports almanac.
B – Oh, but we did. We did.
Terri– I could have sworn it was in the old WalMart strip mall. I don’t remember it being near the McDonalds. I remember that being a Weathervane. And a few other things, but not a Ponderosa. I’m not a native though, so I’d have to doublecheck with my husband (who will say “What? We went where? We used to go out to eat?”)
Terri– I am completely and totally wrong! It was Ground Round that was in the WalMart plaza and you are absolutely right, Ponderosa was near the McDonalds.
Jen Mac & Terri – Ground Round was another restaurant that came up in conversation during our trip to the Amsterdam Ponderosa.
as a former ponderosa server, i can only hope you tipped your server on your trip!
but really.. a pilgrimage to pondo? ouch, thats one i’d never do!
someone said something about Bonanza up there, they are actually the same company