Stacks, Redwood City
Stacks Restaurant in Redwood City, California
Today we had set off to drive to Bolinas, but round about Palo Alto it started to drizzle. By the time we were approaching Highway 92, it was raining so we abandoned our plan. We found ourselves on Highway 82 – El Camino Real and stopped at Pete’s in Belmont for a coffee. After spending half an hour reading the paper and drinking coffee – hot chocolate for me – we then drove to Redwood City.
Stacks is a chain and we have been to Stacks in Menlo Park and Campbell. It is always interesting to see what things are the same and what is different from branch to branch. It was easy to spot as the Stacks sign could be see on the green awning some way away. As it were early, we parked on El Camino but they do have their own parking lot which they share with the Best Western Hotel.
Inside we were greeted and straight away taken to a large booth next to a window. The view of El Camino was not all that exciting though. The menu looks exactly like the one in Campbell. Last time I had the oatmeal so this time I tried something different – fruit, yogurt and granola served with a dry bagel $6.95. Tom ordered a short stack of buttermilk pancakes $5.25 with a side of sausage $4.65. They do oatmeal but to me the price was too steep.
This branch of Stacks is large, with lots of booths. There are a few tables with Formica tops and chrome chairs and ten chairs up at a low counter. There is only one photo on the wall and that is just inside the door. It is of a dog and the caption underneath says ‘Our Founder’. There are floral arrangements of various kinds, very attractively displayed on the wall. There were a couple of vases near with with cherry blossom in one and some other kind of blossom in another. On a half partition there was a row of small, round bay trees in pots. This theme was repeated on every table as they all had a dwarf potted bay tree. I may add that all these arrangements were artificial.
Now to the food. My bowl looked very pretty. Fruit was at the bottom, strawberry yogurt on top and granola sprinkled on the very top. Slices of strawberries were poking up round the bowl, making it look like a crown. The dry bagel was on the side. Tom was going for the large stack (3 large pancakes) to begin with but opted in the end for the short stack. Just as well, because they were very big. Extra points for the warm maple syrup.
I enjoyed the fruit, yogurt and granola but not so keen on the dry bagel. Should have asked for some butter or jam to make it more palatable. Tom’s verdict on the pancakes – good.
As for the restroom, it was more than adequate. The sinks were large and square and the surround was granite. On the counter stood a big vase of fresh flowers. The water took a long time to get hot. There was a large disabled stall with baby changing facilities inside. I liked the trash container – a large, rectangular wicker basket. Two interesting things I noticed to assist the disabled. One of the paper dispensers was set lower and, on the door, were two handles – one at normal level and one beneath it.
Would probaly come here again but the one in Campbell is nearer.
April 03 2009 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
