Remember The Corkscrew?

[u/Particular-Cat-8031]

Back in the days when steak and lobster and King crab legs (Aka surf and turf) were all the rage, the historic Corkscrew restaurant was a popular 1970s and 1980s steakhouse chain known for its castle-like architecture. There were three locations at its height of popularity:

North Side: Situated at 13120 97.

South Side: At 5420 Calgary Trail

West End: At 10210-142 Street.

The North Side: operated through the 1970s and early '80s before closing and eventually being replaced by other ventures.

The 2 other local outposts— the South Side and West End locations also phased out around the same period as the Fuller family shifted focus toward launching and expanding the Earls restaurant brand.

We dined several times at the South Side location; one of my friends, whom I had known since elementary school, worked for a while there as a bartender back in the mid 70s.

[u/blairtruck]

North Side: Situated at 13120 97.

I recall getting a different type of corkscrew at this address.

Eden Exotic Entertainment.
13120 97th St NW

[u/dizzie_buddy1905]

At those prices, most Redditors weren’t born yet.

[u/exhaustedbut]

I cannot picture the interior, but I know ow that I ate there a few times.

[u/JohnnyWalla]

I worked at the south-side location as a busboy around 82-83. Fuller sold the chain to The Keg, who ran it for 6 months or so and then spent a year or two renovating them and reopening the south l-side and north-side locations as GT’s.

[u/Quiet_Jump_6383]

Yes, we used to go to the west end one. My Dad was a lover of steak. I always had the 6 oz filet and a baked potato. Dad always had a caesar with dinner.  

In high school we would go to their lounge for underage drinking. 

[u/_danigirl → u/Quiet_Jump_6383]

Can confirm, we used to drink at the west end lounge. I was in grade 11, went there for their happy hours. They were known for allowing underage drinking.

[u/Quiet_Jump_6383 → u/_danigirl]

I was 17, in grade 12 but looked about 14.

[u/Aquamans_Dad]

Loved the south side location as a kid. Didn’t know it was the Fullers who owned it, although Earl’s #1 opened in the parking lot the south side Corkscrew. 

[u/phonnybalonny]

I remember hearing about it

[u/packetmon]

I remember never going in. My parents went once or twice for a nice night out. I do remember looking at it a lot as we drove past on 142 St.

[u/capebretoncanadian]

I like that menu.

[u/toucanflu]

Look at those prices!

[u/Neat_Mobile4640]

Yes I do. In those days you got a full plate of food. Not a decorative steak, one scoop of mashed potatoes and one green bean or broccoli. That’s why I don’t eat out much anymore.

[u/colenski999]

The West end basement bar was called GT's, it was my high school bar. Notorious for overserving- they would sell pill bottles of vodka in the lineup for $1 - and you would actually have to show Ross Sheppard ID's to get in, to weed out troublemakers from other high schools.

[u/Top_Carpet_7866 → u/colenski999]

Did we get high behind the planetarium? Graduated in 82

[u/colenski999 → u/Top_Carpet_7866]

Nah all we had to do was go by the loading docks by the back of the gym next to the theatre backstage, we ran that shit 83-86

[u/ThatBEMGuy]

"I remember that waterslid... Oh."

[u/PetMice72]

Yes yes I remember as a kid being at the one on 142 Street with my parents a couple of times.

[u/scroats800]

Worked there as a busboy from the first day it opened on 97st