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Old Spaghetti Factory rolling back prices
January 5th, 2009, 7:17 am · 28 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Updated noon to include call-ahead info from Spaghetti Factory.
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The Old Spaghetti Factory, which has two Orange County locations, is rolling back prices on Tuesday night (Jan. 6) to celebrate its 40th birthday. The chain is also offering 40% off on certain days in January.
On Tuesday, a complete meal, including a salad, entree and dessert, will cost about $3, the chain said.
In college, my friends and I always hit the Spaghetti Factory because it was the ultimate great dinner deal. Back then (early 1990s), you could get a salad, all-you-can-eat bread, a spaghetti entree and spumoni ice cream for about $6.
Today, that same meal deal cost $9 to $10, depending on the entree.
I stopped going to the Old Spaghetti Factory years ago because the wait-time for a table got too long. When you have kids, waiting 45 minutes to an hour for a table makes for a miserable night. (The chain does not take reservations, but does offer “call-ahead” service. Noon Update: Just talked to a Spaghetti Factory representative. She said restaurants will NOT offer call-ahead on Tuesday night because they expect a large turnout.)
Tuesday’s dine-in DINNER ONLY special is good for the following entrees: Spaghetti with Tomato, Meat, Mushroom or Clam Sauce, and the chain’s signature — and my personal favorite — Spaghetti with Mizithra Cheese. Depending on which entree you order, prices Tuesday will range from $2.35 to $3.45 per person. A children’s spaghetti dinner will cost $1.95.
I bet Tuesday night will be pretty hectic.
Also, the chain said all restaurants will offer 40% off Monday & Tuesday on the following dates this month: Jan. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27. Old Spaghetti Factory has restaurants in Fullerton and Newport Beach. Spaghetti Factory locations
More restaurant news:
For the latest news on menu changes and value deals found in O.C. restaurants, bookmark my 2009 New on the Menu section.
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Yummm. They have good bleu cheese dressing, too.
Old Spaghetti Factory deal. Your mom said to call her and Cathy on it.
Does anybody know if they have changed owners? The last time my family was there, not only was the menu and items they offered different, the food tasted different as well.
Old Spaghetti Factory = Chef Boyardee warmed over.
Are you kidding me?
This place is not worth $6 unless you like Walmart style ambiance and food quality.
I love OSF, but only take my kids if we can get there right when the doors open. The wait time otherwise, as you said, is just awful. Can you imagine what it will be like on Tuesday? But still…YUM!
OldChef Boyardi– have you ever tried the Mizithra? I always found that offering the most unique, and tasty dish on the menu.. Also…on April’s question : The Old Spaghetti Factory is a privately held and family-owned business headquartered in Portland, Ore. So, no..I don’t think ownership has changed..
I may have to make a trip over there. I really missed the one I used to go to in Duarte and wouldn’t it be nice if Carinos could turn into something like that…
Nancy, I agree with you I love the pasta with Mizithra cheese. Its a greek cheese and I actually found some at Smart & Final on Katella and make it at home from time to time.
there goes my low carb diet plan for the first week of 2009…
Cally:
Carinos is 100% better than the Spaghetti Factory. No comparison!
OldChef Boyardi:
I agree. Warmed over, definitely. LOL
FYI: BEST Italian food I have had in my life. And I’m Italian & eat a lot of Italian food at different places.
Trattoria Barolo
In Orange
I always had the mixed plate ~ each 1/3 had a different sauce ~ including the Mizithra! And how can someone compare those gorgeous old bedframes or the trolley car with Walmart decor?
OldChef Boyardi,
You would know. You are the chef and you eat your own warmed-over chef boyardi every night watching reruns on TV in your pajamas. your favorite.
OldChefBoyardi Says:
January 5th, 2009 at 8:52 am
Old Spaghetti Factory = Chef Boyardee warmed over.
Are you kidding me?
This place is not worth $6 unless you like Walmart style ambiance and food quality.
_________________________________________________
Mmmmm, Wal-mart style ambiance and food quality. I am so there!
I love OSF because it is non-authentic Italian food! I actually like Chef Boyardee too! But that is just me, the less expensive and authentic it is, the more I like it haha…!
Will they allow pick-up at those prices? Then I can feed my family cheap good food, with out the hassle!
Mizithra is my favorite too and the Pesto/Ranch dressing is the best!!
FYI: Sorry if this wasn’t clear in the original post, when I said Tuesday night.
This is dine-in, DINNER ONLY. Please call your local Spaghetti Factory about when they open for dinner.
Yech - I agree this place is gross. Long waits for crappy spaghetti - it never was good, just cheap. I hate to think of what the kitchen looks like serving what seems like thousands of people a night.
LOVE IT! I think the place is full of character and you can’t beat the prices in a casual environment. I guess if you are a stuffy kind of person…you may not care for it. OH well more room for us! How can you not like the mizithra???
Is this good for lunch as well, or just dinner?
What time does it start? ie- can we go at lunch?
I love Old Spaghetti Factory! But then, I have a family connection to the place…
My stepmom up in Portland was a hostess at the very first OSF back in ‘69. She was attending Portland State University at the time, and her sorority sister was pinned to one of the guys who started the very first location in old town Portland. She and her friends would go and help clean the place up in the months leading to the opening with the small group of guys who had this crazy idea about this spaghetti restaurant. The decor used, old Tiffany lamps and Victorian bed frames made into dining booths, was chosen because it was all stuff available for dirt cheap at the junk stores in old town Portland. It was very bohemian and very funky, but it worked and fit the shoestring budget.
She also remembers her friend getting a call to come down to the building immediately one afternoon for an emergency, and several of the girls all drove down there in my stepmoms Mustang to see what the fuss was about. It seems as the guys were fixing up the old building they knocked through an old brick wall that was in the middle of the space they intended to use for the dining room. Behind the wall was an old Portland Electric trolley car sitting on an abandoned spur track. For days they tried to find someone who would haul it out of there for scrap, but no one wanted the job for what little money they had left. About a week later the decision was made to just keep the trolley there in the middle of the dining room and turn it into a set piece. As the restaurant grew in popularity they eventually put tables in the trolley, and it sort of became their gimmick. Most OSF locations today have a trolley car in the dining room now, but most aren’t original equipment like the Portland location had. My stepmom lost contact with the sorority sister, but she still likes to tell the story of helping to get the first OSF going and being a part-time hostess there when they first opened.
The original Portland location in old town is now closed. In the late 80’s they moved to a beautiful custom built facility on the Willamette River just south of downtown. It serves as not only the largest restaurant in the chain, but also as their corporate headquarters. It’s really very opulent. The original Portland Electric trolley was moved to their new location. The old location is now part of the gentrified “Pearl District” in Portland that is now full of trendy stores, hip clubs, and luxury condos.
And now you know!
Thanks, Troy ~ we can always use a little ‘lore’ in our lives. This is a story I will repeat to my friends the next time we visit!
Troy..always delightful (sometimes — ha!) to read your posts…This is a great bit of historical trivia! What a story…glad to hear the old trolley was saved..would love a picture of your stepmom at that locale..If she’s game, I’ll post it here on the blog!
I agree, “lore” is fun. I’m heading up to Portland for MLK Jr. weekend to see the folks and get in some skiing on Mt. Hood. I will check to see if she has any pictures!
Funny thing is that now Portland has a whole bunch of modern 21st century trolleys that zip around on new tracks past the original OSF location and their newer facility south of downtown. But back in 1969 the tracks had all been paved over and the trolley was a huge headache until they decided to keep it in the dining room and just pretend it was part of the show.
We’re going tonight. My kids love OSF, and I like not cooking.
FYI -It’s from 5pm to 10pm, limit one order per person, no takeout.
We attempted to go last night. I arrived to get in line at the Fullerton Location at 4:45. The line was almost to Harbor Blvd. It was certainly crazy. We ended up at a Mexican Restaurant in Anaheim. Oh well!
We went last night to the Fullerton location……….only waited about 12-15 minutes………..food was great!……….portion size seemed a bit smaller than normal………..I normally will take food home but, last night ate the whole thing………..service was a bit spotty but to be expected with such a turn out………..
That mizithra cheese is awsome!……….anybody know where I can buy mizithra in the O.C.???