Pine Cone Diner, Point Reyes Station
Pine Cone Diner, Point Reyes Station, California
After our walk along the Limantour Trail, we were ready for breakfast. I had noticed that the Olema Farm House Restaurant at the junction of Sir Francis Drake Blvd and Highway 1 in Olema had a sign saying ‘Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner’ so we decided to try it out. We were out of luck though as the restaurant wasn’t open. We inquired at the Deli next door where we could get breakfast and were told that we could get an breakfast egg muffin there. We decided against that as we wanted something more substantial so drove back into Point Reyes. (Click on the photo for a larger version)
We normally eat at the Station House Cafe in the heart of Point Reyes Station on Highway 1 but today we drove around town to see if there was anywhere else. On a side street we discovered the Pine Cone Diner and decided to give it a try.
It’s a cute place and obviously been here for some time and is not very big. There are just five four seater booths and a couple of tables – one for six and one for two. There are 8 round stools up at the counter. There is also some seating outside. The tables and chairs were the old fashioned chrome type with yellow tops and upholstery.
Our server was not very welcoming at all, which was a pity. I expected a real friendly welcome so was disappointed. Service is neither slick or fast.
Tom ordered the Chorizo Scramble $9.75 and I ordered the oatmeal (made from Red Mill Oats) with bananas, walnut and raisins for $6.95 plus a side of toast for $2.00.
The decoration is quite charming. At the windows were bright and colorful curtains, which, on close inspection, depicted maps of all 50 states showing their main attractions and landmarks. One wall is devoted to a mixed collection of plates of all sizes, shapes and colors. Over the counter is a shelf displaying decorated glasses and a cut out frieze of farm and household animals. Also on the walls is a varied collection of paintings, prints, a map, awards and newspaper cuttings. The pine cone theme is echoed in a couple of tin trays, half a dozen containers and also hand painted onto the pelmets over the windows. Fresh flowers were on the tables but had obviously been there for a few days. All the decorative objects look genuine as if placed there by a caring family and not obtained by a corporation.
The food was good. My oatmeal came in a deep round bowl on a non matching plate. The walnuts (small and crumbly), brown sugar and golden raisins were served on the side. The milk was in a small, blue ceramic jug. Tom’s Chorizo Scramble was tasty and had beans in it.
The restroom was clean and cutesey. No complaints there.
We would go there again for the food and the cuteness of the place but the service leaves a lot to be desired.
Related posts:
- Station House Cafe, Point Reyes
- Station House Cafe – Point Reyes Station
- Bette’s Ocenview Diner
- Babs Delta Diner, Suisun City
- Bette’s Oceanview Diner – Berkeley
April 27 2009 02:22 pm | Breakfast Log
Sarah Rolph on 28 Apr 2009 at 4:42 am #
Why did you expect a “real friendly welcome?” That’s not everyone’s style.
Why did you expect the service in a tiny little place like this to be “slick” or fast?
I think your negative experience of the service was caused by your own unrealistic expectations.
I love this place and have always found the service to be quite good. Orders are taken promptly and the food arrives as soon as it is ready. It’s true that the kitchen isn’t particularly fast–for good reason. That great food you enjoyed is REAL, made from scratch, which takes time.
Margaret Husband on 28 Apr 2009 at 12:16 pm #
You were right to admonish us. Maybe ‘slick’ and ‘fast’ were the wrong adjectives to use. We are not looking for a fast food restaurant.
The food was great though – no complaints there at all.
olga on 04 Aug 2009 at 7:52 pm #
The Pine Cone Diner is the BEST in the world. great food wonderful people and i love the owner my best friend Jonnie. please save pine cone diner.
Margaret and Tom on 04 Aug 2009 at 8:31 pm #
The Pine Cone Diner has a lot of fans. What do you mean by, “save the Pine Cone Diner”? Is it in trouble?
Margaret and Tom