Lost Menu Items: 1980's Canadian Restaurant Foods You Rarely See Now

If you ate out in Canada in the 1980s, certain foods showed up again and again, no matter where you went. These weren’t gimmicks or one‑off trends—they were popular, familiar items that most restaurants carried.

Looking back at them now isn’t about judging the era, but simply noticing how many one time everyday restaurant staples have disappeared as time went on.

Lets start with the Appetizers...

Deep Fried Zucchini Sticks - a classic 1980s appetizer, battered and served with ranch or horseradish sauce.

Curly Fries - a response for a french fry alternative. Yes, Arbys popularized these in 1988- but they were on the scene before that!

Caesar Salad - lets switch to 'healthy' salad! Dressing made with egg yolks, anchovies, garlic, parmesan, and lemon. Often tossed tableside in a wooden bowl with home made croutons and topped with grated cheese.

Shrimp Cocktail - quintessential retro appetizer featuring chilled, tail-on prawns hanging over the edge of a wine glass. Resting on a bed of shredded lettuce with horseradish cocktail sauce, sometimes garnished with lemon.

The history on this is that during Prohibition, in the 1920s, these “cocktail” appetizers were served in the glasses that had been bought to serve gin cocktails. It was a creative way to use glassware that the restaurant owner could no longer fill with alcohol.

French Onion Soup - A hearty appetizer from 1980s dining. Often served in dark, 'boothy' restaurants with a thick layer of bread and broiled Swiss or Gruyere cheese on top. Characterized by long simmered caramelized onions in beef broth base, served in ceramic crocks.

Moving on to Side Dishes...

Garlic Bread - Iconic side dish from the 80s, often mandatory to pair with spaghetti, pizza, or lasagna. Frequently featuring heavy amounts of butter, garlic, and melted cheese.

Beans For Breakfast - A Canadian breakfast side staple, rooted in traditional Quebec feves au lard, commonly served alongside eggs, sausage, or fried bread.

The Salad Bar - This could be denoted as a main dish. Classic 80's items found at the salad bar may include: ham cubes, cheese cubes, mini steamed shrimp, hard boiled eggs, bacon bits (real if lucky), baby corn, choice of salad dressings, shredded carrots, broccoli florets,cherry tomatoes, radish, shredded cheese and croutons.

On to the Main Courses...

Surf 'n Turf - also known as Reef and Beef, usually including lobster tail and filet mignon - highlighting a luxurious, indulgent dining experience. Sometimes combining steak with Alaskan crab legs, or jumbo shrimp, served with melted butter.

French Dip Sandwiches - Featuring slow cooked, sliced or shredded beef chuck roast, often topped with melted mozzarella or Swiss cheese. Defined by the savory, salty 'au jus' for dipping.

I'm ready for Desserts and Drinks...

Deep Fried Ice Cream - Often found at restaurant chains like Chi-Chi's and other Mexican establishments. Served crisp and hot on the exterior and frozen inside, then topped with whipped cream, cinnamon, honey or chocolate syrup.

Alcoholic Drinks - Peaking in popularity for the 80's, Tequila Sunrise. Also the original Cosmo/Cosmopolitan, was created in 1985. The cosmo was made with vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and fresh lime in a martini glass.

Tomato Juice - And even better- Clamato Juice, often offered as an alternative to orange juice at breakfast, or served anytime- chilled in a small glass.

Mints - Often found in 'communal' bowls and unwrapped, common complimentary after meal mints were melt in your mouth butter mints which were creamy and pastel coloured candies. Their trade name was Rainbow Mints. Occasionally restaurants would have the jelly filled kind.

Including a picture of the jelly filled mints for posterity: