The last pizza has been baked. The last broasted chicken has been served, and now the iconic Frank & Helen’s restaurant in University City is officially a “lost table.” A “lost table” is what Dr. Harley Hammerman calls those St. Louis restaurants that are now part of the city’s culinary history. Hammerman has been keeping their stories alive as part of his popular websites Lost Tables and Lost Dishes. This past May, Hammerman added the “Lost Tables” podcast to his repertoire.
| RELATED: Fans of Frank & Helen’s mourn as longtime U. City restaurant announces plans to close
To mark the closing of Frank & Helen’s, Hammerman is releasing a two-part deep dive into the beloved University City eatery, known for nearly 70 years of comforting meals, countless memories and those iconic dough balls for kids.
“I’ll be uploading a two-part podcast on Frank & Helen’s that your readers might be interested in,” Hammerman shared. “The first part is available now.”
LISTEN| Frank & Helen’s Part One: 1956 to 1991
Frank and Helen’s was started by three siblings—Julius and Frank Seitz and their sister, Helen, whose married name was Wentzelman. Helen’s daughter, Sharon Wentzelman Robberson, grew up in the restaurant.
“I interviewed Sharon from her home in Chattanooga, Tenn. She does a beautiful job of telling the first part of the Frank & Helen’s story,” said Hammerman.
But the story doesn’t end there. “The second part of the story will go online this coming weekend,” Hammerman said, “and will be told by the individuals who owned the restaurant after Frank Seitz sold it in 1991. First Bob and Betty Oddy, then Scott and Mary DePolito and finally Patrick and Rebecca Horvath.”
For those mourning the loss of the restaurant, this podcast offers a chance to relive the magic one last time—and maybe learn something new about what made the restaurant such a cornerstone of the community. Tune in to “Lost Tables” this weekend and next to catch the full story.
