8 time warp restaurants that are still good

Hollyhock Hill

Opened in 1928 when northern Marion County was basically the sticks, this eatery is known for "family style" dining. Diners pass around the food like they do in Norman Rockwell paintings. The big thing here is the fried chicken.

8110 N. College Ave., www.hollyhockhill.com.

Marco's Restaurant & Lounge

It opened in 1985, but the mid-century "Goodfellas" vibe makes the place feel more like 1961, which is explained by the fact that the place opened around then as the Capri (the Capri later moved a few miles north). Marco's has an attractive steak special on Tuesdays. When's the last time you had a baked potato?

2380 E. 54th St., marcosrestaurantlounge.com.

Mug n Bun

Opened in 1960, it is one of the last places you can still eat in your car off those trays that fit onto the driver's side window. The tenderloins are big, and the root beer is homemade. Since the Fonzie era it has added indoor seating.

5151 W. 10th St., mug-n-bun.com.

Red Key

It's more bar than restaurant, though the burgers are great in that same greasy-in-a-good-way that Workingman's Friend's are good. The Manhattans are even better. The neon sign out front depicts four musical notes. They are the notes to the old booze song: "How Dry I Am." The decor is nearly untouched from the '50s. The place is so genuinely retro it does not have a website.

5170 N. College Ave.

Iron Skillet

It was built as a house then converted to a family-style restaurant in 1953. Its specialty is skillet-fried chicken. It's closed Mondays and Tuesdays. It serves dinner only, except on Sundays, when it opens at noon. It's similar to Hollyhock Hill, and in fact the two restaurants once were owned by brothers.

2489 W. 30th St., www.ironskillet.net.

Pasquale's Pizza

Opened in 1963, this was part of a small chain of pizza joints, one of the earliest chains to hit Indianapolis (the first Pasquale's came in 1959). Pizza was just catching on in the U.S. The Pasquale's on 16th Street still looks like it did when Pasquale himself set it up. He was Pasquale Gramaglia, a Cincinnati-born WW II vet. Toppings included, and still include, sausage, pepperoni, mushroom, etc. Brussel sprouts need not apply.

3623 W. 16th St., www.mypasquales.com.

Steer In

This classic mid-century drive-in/dine-in opened in 1960 and has had just three owners since. It is an Eastside landmark full of "regulars," who are friendly. In 2011 the Steer In was featured on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." Its official name is now Historic Steer In.

5130 E. 10th St., www.steerin.net.

Workingman's Friend

This predates all the others, by far. It opened in 1918. To say it's unpretentious is to understate it. Great onion rings, great burgers (greasy-but-in-a-good-way). Large glasses of beer. Rik Smits sometimes eats lunch there, as do politicians like Joe Donnelly. Thrillist last month pronounced the WF's cheeseburger (American, with a mound of grilled onions) Indiana's top burger.

234 N. Belmont St., www.facebook.com/pages/The-Workingmans-Friend/284537191374.

Contact Star reporter Will Higgins at (317) 444-6043. Follow him on Twitter @WillRHiggins.