Alice’s Restaurant, Skyline Blvd
Alice's Restaurant at the Corner of Hwy 84 & Skyline
We have often passed Alice’s Restaurant but never ventured inside. Normally we see it on our way home from the coast, when the car park is packed with motor bikes. This time we decided to have breakfast there and as it doesn’t open until 8, we set out a bit later.
After an exhilarating drive up 84 to Skyline Blvd, we arrived at Alice’s. There were a few motorbikes already in the car park but cars outnumbered the bikes. It is a wooden building and probably has not been altered much since it was built. There are steps up to a wooden deck on which picnic type tables and benches had set out. The outdoor heaters were being started up but too cold for me outside at the moment. On the edge of the deck, attached to a pole and overlooking the car park and the first thing I saw as I got out of the car, was a wonderful metal owl with outspread wings.
Inside we were greeted and told to sit where we liked. We picked a booth next to the window, which overlooked the deck and car park. What struck me most about the seat was its cover. It was originally hide but most of the hair has been worn away with use. The tables was very narrow. Tom and I played footsie the whole time. At the counter were seven low stools which were also covered in hide but these had obviously been recovered in the recent past because the hair had not been worn away.
Tom ordered a Joe’s Special $8.95 and I asked for the oatmeal with fruit $5.50. On the front of the menu was a short history of Alice’s. It was constructed in the early 1900′s. At the time it was a general store to support the local logging industry. The area was called Four Corners. In the 1950′s it became a restaurant. Alice Taylor bought it in the 1960′s and named it after herself and the Arlo Guthrie song. It has been a favorite stop for bikers, cyclists and hikers for many years. Alice’s Restaurant and adjacent buildings were bought in the 1970′s and has been family run ever since.
I then had time to take a look around and it was very pleasing. Looking closer at the windows I realized they were also doors. Presumably when the days are warmer they can all be opened. To the side of the restaurant is a covered deck with a view over the garden. The whole wall behind the counter is covered with photos, adverts (mostly biker orientated) and several comic signs. One said:
‘Drink Coffee
Do Stupid Things Faster with More Energy’
and yet another:
‘Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beerholder’
Music was playing in the background. I half expected to hear ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ being played at some point but it didn’t happen. The place was vibrant with lively chatter and everybody looked relaxed and cheerful.
My oatmeal was served on a large shallow bowl on top of a blue and white paper plate inside a green plastic basket. The bowl was filled to the brim with oatmeal with very little room for milk. The top was covered with sliced strawberries and bananas. It came with no milk but a jug was brought to me when I asked for it. The Joe’s Special came on a large round plate and looked really good – plenty of cheese and spinach. Everything tasted great. Tom said it was a good breakfast and I agreed with him.
The restrooms were outside in a separate block and can best be described as basic. Originally the ladies’ restroom had a shower in it because there was a raised area at one end and a pipe sticking out of the wall near the ceiling. Now the baby changing facilities are situated in that area. There were white net curtains at the window and they were filthy. On the walls were several pictures including one of a girl on a motor scooter. There were also things written on the wall and one of them caught my attention. It said – ‘I took the road less traveled….now where the hell am I?
Our conclusion on Alice’s Restaurant – a great place to go for breakfast and we will visit again.
Alice’s Restaurant
Corner of Hwy 84 & Skyline
Related posts:
- Lockeford Inn Restaurant
- The Longhouse Restaurant, Gilroy
- Pete’s Family Restaurant, South San Jose
- Vic’s Restaurant, 1107 San Carlos Avenue, San Carlos
- Goldy’s, 188 Capital Blvd, Boise, ID
January 26 2010 07:18 am | Breakfast Log
