Comments on: The Whale's Tail / Rubino's Italian Restaurant, 11210 Broad River Road (I-26 exit 97): 1980s

By: Homer

Homer — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:47:19 +0000

I think they were sold mostly as souvenirs. Some of the waitresses may have worn them but for the most part the they wore your typical white blouse and black pants. The cooks, we wore whatever, usually blue jeans and a tee shirt. I am surprised that you found one. That is amazing since I worked there in the early 70's. Not sure how many years they sold them.

By: Noelle

Noelle — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 01:21:40 +0000

After finding a whales tail shirt at the goodwill today in southwest Va. I was very interested in finding out if it was a seafood restaurant. I am very heart broken to find out that it is closed down, but I really love the baby blue tee with a whale on the front and back. Did the waitresses wear this shirt??

By: PDent

PDent — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:39:21 +0000

Serving breakfast all day, lunch and dinner items, family setting with attached banquet room and separate bar area. Come and meet Cletus!!

By: Pent

Pent — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:35:16 +0000

Coming October 2012, Cletus' Roadside Grille. Check them out on Facebook!

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 18:33:15 +0000

I've seen some work going on at this building recently, anyone know what's going in there now?

By: Homer

Homer — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:38:47 +0000

Has anyone every done any research on Jack's Diner in Chapin? My folks used to take me there religiously when I was growing up to partake of the fried baby catfish that they used to specialize in. I know that they closed last year and, supposedly, they gave the catfish recipe to Little Pigs when they were occupying this building. It was located at 209 Chapin Rd. (Hwy 76). I only have one image that I have pulled off of the net. Hopefully, here it is. I remember it being a sort of yucky sea foam green when I was younger but this is definitely the building.

By: Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 02:28:49 +0000

I have to say that this was a traditional stop for my family on the way to the beach. Mom and dad loved the oyster stew (which many pearls were found) and my mamaw could make a meal on the hush puppies. As to reply to Jonathan's post, if my memory serves me correct (I'm only 31 so it isn't too bad, yet) I think after it closed, it became Kathryns (not sure how to spell it). Never ate there after The Whale Tail closed.

By: kathy

kathy — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:05:13 +0000

I lived pretty close to there and we ate there a lot. But I did have a friend who waitressed there and said she would never eat there based on what she saw in the kitchen. I told her never to tell me because we loved it there. We also loved the cedar cabin (closed), and Jack's diner (still open but only on weekends).

By: Homer

Homer — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 05:12:33 +0000

This is the Whale's Tail. I should know, this was my first job as a teenager back in the early-70's. I was a short order cook in the front kitchen. I was always amazed at the amount of people that would line up around the building every night. I do have some horror stories about the place (which I will keep to myself, but they managed to keep an 'A' or 'B' rating most of the time). Working there did spark my interest in cooking; which I have to this day; even though I couldn't look at seafood for months after I quit. I am going to have to check out Little Pigs to see what the old place looks like!! Wonder if they will let me look out back where the really SCARY stuff was??

By: Swampy Bob

Swampy Bob — Fri, 28 May 2010 02:01:35 +0000

Wow what a memory !!!! Have not thought about this place in years. I remember going there in the 70's, they had an all you can eat menu; Consumed a "boatload" of boiled shrimp in this place.