Boar's Head Restaurant

The Boar's Head Restaurant came to South Bend in December, 1972. It was owned by Ralston Purina's Foodmaker, Inc. subsidiary (did not serve dog food) and was latter organized into Continental Restaurant Systems. Other Continental dinner houses, with names such as Hungry Hunter, Stag and Hound, Mountain Jack, Dry Dock, J. Ross Browner, Monterey Whaling Company, and London Opera House, posted average sales of $1.8 million in 1983.

It was located on US 31 North (Dixie Highway) just North of the Notre Dame University Campus and the I-80 South Bend Exit to take advantage of it's location on restaurant row to the Fighting Irish Football crowd.

It was noted for the Falstaff's Favorite Teriyaki Sirloin Steak, The Beefeater New York Strip, The Duchess Filet, Surf & Turf, a Beef Kabob, Beef Tips, Hawaiian Chicken and a rich fresh cup or bowl of Clam Chowder. There was a fantastic fresh salad bar, which came with the meal at which guests could see the grilling being done. A hot loaf of bread and a baked and loaded potato kept you going. A Sara Lee Cheese Cake was the featured dessert and the Khula & Creme Coffee or the Bloody Boar were the popular drinks.

I worked there from its opening to the end of my college Junior year. Why do I have this page on my site? It was the place of my formative years and working their helped make me into the personality I am today.

The Restaurant was sold and changed hands a few times. It was first Damon's Grill, a place for Ribs and a big screen TV sports bar. It was recently J Willy's Bar & Grille and was featured on Chef Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares airing on October 30, 2008. The restaurant was dying out and Chef Ransay attempted a turnaround in the menu and decor and some advice for J Willy, who was not living up to his own expectations and that of his Michigan partners. My wife Dawn and I ate there in 2008 after the turnaround and we loved the barbeque from the menu. Unfortunately, J Willy could not seize the opportunity and the restaurant went under.

http://jwillys.com/index.html

http://www.hulu.com/watch/41726/kitchen-nightmares-j-willys