O'Neils' Baloon. NYC.1984. This menu makes sense to me, as do the prices.

Annie & Woody thru the window. 1977.

Chopped sirloin and a bottle of Meot, please!

In the '70s, I used to get a cheeseburger, a spinach salad, or quiche. And a glass of wine.

Or the Moet, whichever

They don't serve Coke? Forget it.

Seems expensive to me for the time and I live in Los Angeles...

Is Burger au poivre, a sauce? If it is, I'd have that with a baked potato and sour cream and cheesecake or apple pie with a scoop of vanilla. I don't live in the USA anymore so all this would be very exciting to me.

I rarely have starters, it's just too much... but I might have soup of the day.

& Root Beer, if they have it.

I used to get the Cheddar Bacon burger (or au poivre if I was feeling like a change of pace) with onion rings and a McSorleys.

The Turkey Club and the Reuben were fine too.

They weren’t known for the food.

I don't know OP because places like that usually have 1 or 2 delicious dishes, a bunch of meh ones, and a few gross. Who is to say what was good there?

Imagine it's ALL good, R11

The ballet dancers hung out there. They didn't eat.

The vodka however, was gone.

Some rather sophisticated and snotty wine choices for basically a burger and sundae place.

I'd bet 95% of people have no idea what Tavel is.

[quote] Some rather sophisticated and snotty wine choices for basically a burger and sundae place.

As are you, gurl!

Now pick something to eat! I'll pay.

In today's dollars, the cheeseburger and fries would be about $17. New Yorkers are such rubes.

Foot long chili hot dog, French fries and onion rings and coleslaw, Moet (bonus if it was demi-sec) and if there is room for desert, sherbet, depending on the flavors. Plus I would smoke between courses. If the hot dog looks bad, maybe broiled chicken.

Sounds like a basic place for basic people. Even by 1984 standards.

Cup of chili for starters. Then the hot dog with fries and onion rings. Cheesecake and cappuccino. Probably wouldn’t eat for the next day or two after all that.

R18 - agreed. But wouldn't it be kind of fun to visit a basic place again? Everything's been so overdone and fucked with, it could be refreshing to go to a place with the old standards.

But I guess that never really happens. Food tastes migrate and rarely go back. You don't see anyone jonesing for the Victorian gelatin molds or Steak Diane.

Easy.

The signature Chicken Pot Pie (because I haven't had one in two years); the Onion Soup au Gratin (because I haven't had this in years and years), and for dessert, maybe the Carrot Cake because it will seal the deal of convincing me that the best time is always the present - not 1984, not the past.

Don't diners still serve all this.

R20 we are of like mind.

we also need to bring back the 80s style. basic, but of high quality. comfortable. not flashy.

been watching Cagney and Lacey. wow, who knew that stuff would look so great after 30+years! real fibers, real fabrics, real cuts.

Onion soup, roast beef, house salad, Guinness stout, then cheesecake and black coffee.

I would get the onion soup, fries and the avocado viniargrette. Cheesecake and coffee for dessert. I'm vegetarian.

r23 - No.

How is the Fish and Chips ? I always wanted authentic fish and chips and does a place. Called O’anything have it? I would get chocolate mouse pie and cheesecake for. Later. OP said you. Could only pick three items. I hate beer but I might try Guinness and come back another day to try the chili and burgers.

Are they still opened?

great, they have Sanka!

R27 - I think they closed in the early 90's by the tone of this article.

Interesting stuff - sounds like it was quite a place for artists.

[quote]Interesting stuff - sounds like it was quite a place for artists.

Interesting anecdote about the name. Doesn't it go back to the days of Prohibition when it was O'Neils' Saloon, but they had to change the name so they just changed the letter, S to B on the signs, from saloon to baloon? Something like that. I always liked the name. Same way I always loved Serendipity, which does still exist, I believe.

It was also used as a location in the film Sea Of Love.

Oh and one more thing. The woman who owned it was a pioneer in support for people who were struggling with AIDS. She set up support groups and such. Can't remember the exact details.

Anyone ever try any of these delicacies?

A lot of that menu sounds great on paper (I’m a big retro food fan) but I went there as a kid with my parents a couple of times (usually post theatre or something if everything else was busy or closed) and we all always thought the food kind of sucked.

Also the prices...I actually think that would have been slightly pricey for the time. I recall it was considered a huge deal that Maxwell’s Plum’s burger (now that’s a menu you should find) was $5.95 and this was the same exact time (84/85). Also, those wine prices I’m confused ...that’s too expensive for 1984 if it’s by the glass, but still way too cheap for a bottle (isn’t it)?

It was kind of one those places that would be in a movie that was trying to show off New York but real New Yorkers knew better than to eat there (kind of like Elaine’s, although I personally liked the food there as well as the atmosphere.) NYC restaurants also used to be open much later, which is something I miss (and it’s only gonna get worse). PJ Clarke’s is in this spot now.

By uptown/downtown comparison, here's Florent's 1985 menu. Breakfast served 3am :)

Onion soup or cup of chili depends on my mood. If the lasagna was good, then that as you get a side of salad. No other sides. Since it was 1984 and I could still do it, cheese cake for dessert. Now that's food as I remember it!

Baloon or saloon?

We used to order off the menu—kale and quinoa salad, avocado toast and pho.

southern fried chicken

Went there once with my mom before the ballet. The food sucked but there really was no where else to eat close to Lincoln center.

Waiter, take this down:

Onion soup au gratin

Homemade chicken pot pie (*only* if it contains less than 30% dark meat; otherwise, I shall have the roast beef with mushroom sauce, and potato salad)

Lemon mousse pie

And I'll have the Soave, please; however, if I'm to have the roast beef, I will have the Cabernet.

Now, off you go, my good man *claps hands imperiously*

It's O'Neals' dear; my god the menu was right in front of you.

Michael O’Neal passed on in 2018, and went him went a great part of the UWS/Hell's Kitchen (or Clinton if you will) of old.

R37 see R42

R30, Serendipity SUCKS. And no matter what time you walk by there, there are a few dumb tourists sitting outside, waiting to get in. Pathetic.

In comparison check menu and prices for Atlantic Grill which now occupies former O'Neal's space.

R1 Incredibly evocative picture. It made me nostalgic for somewhere I've never been. Now I'm a bit resentful that you've awakened a desire that can never be satisfied :)

It’s O’Neals’, not O’Neils’

In the end the Balloon's menu is nostalgic, Florent's is the menu (with it's fair number of similarities) that is missed.

[quote]I would get the onion soup, fries and the avocado viniargrette. Cheesecake and coffee for dessert. I'm vegetarian.

Onion soup is usually made with beef stock (even more likely in the '80s).

R43

"and went him" should be with him; sorry.

1970's review for O'Neal's

How many remember the Empire Hotel?

[quote] Michael O’Neal passed on in 2018,

Passed on what, the soup of the day?

OP,

I’ll have the

Soup of the Day

Sirloin Steak

Baked potato

And a Miller Lite.

Also, a foot long hot dog to go. I plan to freeze that for later.

Why is everyone looking at me? 12 inches is 12 inches!

Chili Con Carne (with sour cream and onions)

Grilled Reuben

Cheese Cake

Heineken

Total is around $15.

I'm speechless !

The smoked trout with potato salad sounds delish!

And just the cheesecake. You dont need an appetizer if you're having cheesecake.

Speak for yourself.

I did eat there in 1984, multiple times.

Generally I had things like onion soup and quiche or a bacon cheddar burger with onion rings or lasagna or fried shrimp. I don't remember exactly, but I'm thinking the spinach-mushroom-bacon salad is something I would have ordered. I was into Rolling Rock at the time, but I don't remember what I drank there. Probably something like a Guinness.

I probably never ate dessert there, but for OP's game, I'll say onion soup au gratin with quiche and cheesecake. And a beer.

Also, R53, I remember the Empire Hotel. A boyfriend of mine for a hot minute was an owner in the late 80s. I wasn't in his league financially, but it was fun while it lasted.

They don't say if there's sour cream for the baked potato, but I guess that's a given in the USA...or if the chilli's "con carne".

[quote]How many remember the Empire Hotel?

I lived on 69th between Columbus and Broadway in the 1970s. I remember O'Neals', but I had no idea until now which building it was in. I never heard of the Empire Hotel specifically until Gossip Girl housed Chuck Bass there.

The prices look expensive for the time.

$4.95 for a burger, R63? I don't agree.

There was a guide book to NYC in the 70s that was just menus. I wish I still had it.

R63, I think you're right. Not expensive, exactly, but not the cheapest place around. If I remember correctly, it was usually something between $10 and $15, whereas at an ordinary diner, like the ones all operated by Greek people, the same amount of food with drink and tip would be about $10 or a little less, and I could also get a good Chinese meal for $4 to $7.

It was famous and trendy and the food wasn't fantastic, but it was decent basic stuff, better than most other bars served.

Oops! I forgot to sign R66. I'm also R60.

Of course it's chili "con carne"! This is not fucking Texas!

There are no soft drinks on the menu, pass.

Onion soup, quiche, spinach salad, pecan pie....such a 1970s menu.

BTW: a $5,.50 burger would be about 14,50 in today's dollars.

The owner's brother starred with Doris Day in "Where Were You When The Lights Went Out"

The owner’s brother I remember as an asshole film director in The Way We Were.

My order, back then: onion soup au gratin, maybe some artichoke hearts, maybe the bacon "Baloon" burger, French fries, cheese cake, and a cappuccino.

My order, today: artichoke hearts, smoked trout salad or salad Nicoise, French fries, maybe pecan pie, and coffee.

I had many an onion soup, with turkey club there; on especially hungry days, I added 5he spinach/bacon salad.

R72 I love pecan pie but my guess is they got it from the same place a lot of those restaurants bought it (and still do) so it was probably average at best.

You're probably right, R74 . Restaurants seem to always outsource their desserts. I rarely order desserts at restaurants.

Isn't that where Carrie met the guy who had gotten her pregnant several years ago to admit to him she'd had an abortion, and he didn't even remember who she was? and he was still working there as a waiter?

[quote] There are no soft drinks on the menu, pass.

Pussy.

You’re going to ruin our DL lunch that OP is paying for just because you can’t get a soft drink?

Drink water!

The artichoke hearts came out of a can, didn't they.

The only dessert worth eating was the cheesecake, and even that was only OK.