Santa Cruz Diner, Santa Cruz
Tom and I usually stop here for breakfast when we are in Santa Cruz. It is open 24 hours, which means no matter how early we are we know we will get to eat.
The Santa Cruz Diner is your usual unpretentious diner, which is a few steps up from a Denny’s. The clientel is varied, to say the least, though at 6.30 there were not a lot of other customers there.
There are only booths and 15 seasts at the counter. We took a booth so we could keep an eye on our car with our bikes on the back.
Tom order a Porteguese Omelette ($7.69) and I had my usual oatmeal ($4.99) The price include toast and mixed fruit.
My oatmeal came in a medium sized round bowl on a large oval, white, plastic plate. The oatmeal looked watery and it lived up to expectations. It was also barely lukewarm. The fruit didn’t come in its own bowl which could be eaten with a fork or spoon but as large chunks of melon, oranges and pineapply. There was brown sugar and no raisins. Strangely there was no milk either so I had to ask for some. Apparently it is not served with milk so had to buy a glass of milk which cost an extra $1.89).
Tom’s omelette was hot – which is great – but he described the taste as ‘just OK’.
Our server could be best described as disinterested. As she could have been working since the night before, we’ll cut her some slack.
Because this is not part of a chain, the decor is not bland. The underlying theme is vaguely nautical – a life belt, surging pictures, fish sculptures – but the main attraction is the vast range of amusing signs. Here is a selection:
‘Be Nice or Go Away’
“Beware Pickpocket and Loose Women’
‘Dinner Choices – 1. Take Out 2. Leave It’
‘Drive Carefully. Watch Out for Old Horses, Blind Dogs and Unruly Kids’
At one end there is a juke box and hits from the 50′s and 60′s. were being played. Several times I had to stop myself from singing along.
I was not impressed with the restrooms. The Ladies was grubby and shabby. It could definitely do with a remodel. On top of that there was not one little touch to cheer the place up – no pictures on the walls, no whimsical items. Not even a vase of artificial flowers. The only reason we keep coming is because we know we will always be able to get breakfast.
June 23 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
