I’m inclined to like a restaurant with portraits of Muhammad Ali and Colonel Sanders hanging over the front door, so Pallookaville Fine Foods got off on the right foot with me.

The restaurant opened on Halloween in the small Tudor-style building at the main intersection in Avondale Estates.

Pallookaville is a 1950s soda shop with an edge. A bust of the Creature from the Black Lagoon watches over the bar and display cases on the wall house action figures and other pop culture knickknacks. Photos of long-forgotten TV stars hang on the wall and another photo of Colonel Sanders graces the men’s room. The guy behind the counter wore a nerdy white shirt and skinny black tie, but also sported lots of ink and some piercings.

Pallookaville was hopping at lunchtime last Friday. The place has a full bar and a menu loaded of dogs, “world famous” corndogs, burgers, sandwiches and fries. The milkshakes are the real thing. Don’t expect anything light or delicate. My only complaint: no slaw or chili for my hotdog.

Just across the street, in the big Tudor building, a sign announces that a restaurant called The Bishop will open in one of the empty stores.

According to Tomorrow’s News Today, it’s the project of Avondale resident Luellen Marshall.

City leaders hope Pallookaville will help revive the tired downtown. It looks like it’s off to a good start.