In early/mid 60's California the Alpine/Nordic fad occurred and suddenly fondue, Swedish meatballs and Skiing became popular, some restaurants adapted a ski lodge look with low lighting, lots of large exposed wooden beams, black and brown decor and exposed black slate or dark rock planters filled with nice plants.<p>And topping it off, a large hanging fireplace with "sunken" bench seating around the fireplace to chat while waiting to be seated.<p>A few years later some steakhouses and higher end restaurants also added large, open on three sides fireplaces minus the conversation pits, essentially for atmosphere, but it still made for very cozy dining in low the light and subdued environment, which encouraged patrons to be quieter than in "regular" restaurants as well.<p>By the mid 70's Sizzler added fireplaces in some locations and went a bit "higher class" with pecky cedar and lots more wood and brass decor, plants, lower light levels), it was a nice place to dine, not as fast food like, or brash and institutional.<p>Then they abandoned that formula and moved on to something else more commercial.