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 | No Comments »
Two breakfasts out in one weekend - we are eating high on the hog now.
Today we are off to the Farmers Market in Campbell and decided to leave a bit early to find somewhere for breakfast. We checked online before hand but the only alternative to the nearby Kings Head is Stacks. Once we went to Stacks in Menlo Park and I was not that impressed but maybe it is time to give this one in Campbell a try out.
It’s another lovely sunny day and hopefully we will find something tasty to BBQ tonight. After breakfast we will head straight to the fish stall. Unfortunately we are not going to find any local King salmon because there is a fishing ban off the California coast at all this year. We will also check to see if there is any sweet corn on sale.
Stacks normally has a lot of people waiting outside for a table but at 8.30 this morning there was nobody. To cope with the expected crowds later on there is free coffee available. Inside we were behind a couple of other new arrivals waiting. When it was our turn, we were aksed if we wanted to eat outside or up at the counter and there would be no wait but we decided to wait for a table inside. It was a very short wait and before long we were led to our table. We were expecting a small table as they are so busy but we were lucky to be seated in a 6 seater booth and have it all to ourselves. Plenty of room to stretch out.
Stacks is quite large - it was difficult to count how many booths and tables. The layout well thought out and the variety of options is extensive. It’s your typical breakfast eatery but, as it is a chain, the artwork and decorative touches are bland. It is also noisy but, of course, that is due to the number of customers here, all chatting away in large and small groups and enjoying their meals.
The menu is OK but I didn’t study it too well. I went straight to the ‘Healthy Eating’ section and checked out the oatmeal. It comes with a choice of blueberries, bananas or strawberries (hmm… just like the Ketch Joanne yesterday). Instead of toast though, the oatmeal comes with a dry bagel.
Within five minutes we gave our order and I asked the same questions as yesterday - Is the oatmeal instant? - No - Are the blueberries frozen? - Yes. So I ordered the oatmeal with strawberries ($5.75). Tom ordered a bacon Belgium waffle (7.65). He asked our server how big it was and she pointed out one on the serving hatch that was about to be served. He debated whether to order a side or something to go with it and decided not to.
The food arrived within ten minutes. That’s good. From arrival to getting our food it had been twenty minutes. We are impressed.
My oatmeal came in a medium sized, deep, round bowl on a large oval plate. Around it were small white bowls with sugar, raisins, strawberries and one with butter (I asked for butter to go with my dry bagel). The milk came in a small stainless steel jug and was full to the brim. Although the oatmeal looked a bit watery, it turned out to be nothing of the sort. It was scrummy. The sugar was not compacted in the bowl and therefore soft and the strawberries were just right. The only observation I would make, it was difficult to eat out of the bowl without moving all the little bowls out of the way, but not a big problem.
Tom enjoyed his waffle and it was soon gone. The server came to inquire if everything was OK. Now normally that superficial question which all servers ask (I guess because they are trained to do so), annoys the heck out of us. They always seem to interrupt at a critical point in a conversation or in the middle of reading an interesting article or, in my case, when I’m concentrating on writing. Our server (her name was Chelle) did it in such an engaging manner, she was excused. She also asked Tom if the waffle was sufficient or did he want to order a side. That idea appealed to him so he ordered a side of sausage. Three sausages on a plate, decorated with two slices of tomatoes and chopped cilantro, were soon put in front of him and, according to Tom, they were good.
The restroom was not that special. One thing surprised me, considering the size of the restaurant and the number of people who frequest the place, there were only two stalls - one standard and one handicapped. Plus there was only one basin. It was clean and bright though.
Our verdict is that the food is very good. Unlike yesterday, everything was piping hot. The service was excellent. All in all, we both agreed that we will come here again.
We had a successful visit to the Farmers Market and came away with 2lbs of Rainer cherries, 1lb of fresh King salmon from Alaska (at $21.95 a pound it was quite steep) and fresh white corn from Brentwood. We also noticed that there was a new restaurant serving breakfast so we will have to try it out next time.
June 17 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Tom and I both needed food and a hot drink. I needed to thaw out my hands after an early
morning trip to the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve at Moss Beach. We were making our way to half Moon Bay when I remembered that there was a restaurant which served breakfast at Pillar Point Harbor just the other side of Princton.
(Click on the image for a larger version)
As we turned into Capistrano Road towards the harbor, we noticed that there have been a few changes since our last visit and we hardly recognized the place. There was a new condo complex which really altered the look of the place.
Ketch Joanne is in a small parade of shops near the Harbor Master’s office with a fair sized car park in front. We parked in a 2 hour slot just in front of the restaurant. Inside it was not very crowded though pleasantly busy. We sat in a window seat with a view of the fishing boats in the harbor and the radar station on the hill.
The place is a bit kitschy with lots of wood - wooden tables, wooden seats, wooden booths, wooden bar, wooden bar stools, wooden floor, wooden walls and even the fish sculptures on the walls were made out of wood. Also displayed on the walls were a variety of mirrors advertising beers.
We sat near the bar and saw several Bloody Marys being prepared. How can anybody drink this early in the morning is beyond me.
Our server was a sweet girl but she had her drawbacks. Maybe she didn’t understand my accent. For instance, I ordered oatmeal (what else?) It comes with warm milk and brown sugar. With fruit - blueberries, bananas or strawberries - it is $1 extra. I first asked whether it was instant oatmeal and the answer was no. I then asked if the blueberries were frozen. She didn’t know the answer to that one so I said if they were frozen I would have the strawberries. When my order arrived, complete with blueberries, they had obviously been frozen. Maybe she thought I was asking if they were served frozen! Anyway, I asked her to change them for strawberries. She forgot to bring the warm milk or, indeed any milk at all and Tom asked for hot sauce and jam for his muffin and my toast. Tom ordered the Foursome Omelette with home fries. The omelette looked a bit skimpy and there was no decoration whatsover. When the milk arrived it was warm but there was such a small amount it was hardly worth the effort of heating it up.
Our main criticism of the food though is that none of it was anywhere near hot. It could be described, at best, as lukewarm. For a change I ordered a hot chocolate (remember, my hands were cold and I just fancied a nice, hot chocolate to warm them up on) but it was far from hot when it arrived. Most disappointing.
Another disappointment - though it was just as I expected - was my trip to the restroom. It was ugly and far from clean. Plus, the fan was extremely noisy. The only item which brightened the place up was the condom machine. It was an old fashioned one with two padlocks on it but the items described made me smile.
To be sure, we won’t be coming back here in a hurry.
June 14 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
We are here in Fresno to celebrate Mother’s Day with Tom’s folks. Pardini’s is a regular haunt for his Dad, Don, and Arlene.
At 7.30 it was relatively quiet. I expect most people will be out and about later in the morning taking their Moms to brunch.
Pardini’s is a bright, clean and cheerful restaurant with lots of booths outside, a few tables and chairs in the middle and places up at the counter. I never really noticed the decor at all, apart from the fact that there was a lot of brick, and I didn’t even visit the restoom.
The food though is worth a mention. As usual I ordered the oatmeal ($2.95) with a fruit topping ($.75). Tom ordered 3 buttermilk pancakes, Don had 2 buttermilk pancakes and Arlene had two scrambled eggs with bacon and a side of salsa. She says eggs are boring without salsa.
I was busy giving Arlene a Sudoku lesson so didn’t notice how long it took for the meal to be served but it wasn’t very long.
I was impressed with the oatmeal when it arrived. It was served in a large, round, shallow bowl on a plate. On another large plate with a doily were the accompaniments - sugar & raisins in reasonable sized plastic containers, the milk in a glass and the fruit (a fair helping of sliced strawberries and cubes of melon) in a glass bowl. It was delicious and for $3.70 it was good value.
Tom enjoyed his pancakes. They were served with a container of soft butter and lots of hot maple syrup. Don and Arlene always order the same, so they enjoyed their meal as well.
If you are ever in Fresno, pay Pardini’s a visit.
May 15 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
After a 4.30 start, we were ready for breakfast by the time we got to Lockeford. Now you are probably wondering where Lockeford is. It is east of Stockton and we were on our way to the Gold Country. This is new territory for us and we did not know what to expect in the way of breakfast, but we spotted this place with an open sign in the window so pulled in.
It was just after 6.30 but there were a few cars in the large car park. The restaurant was large so with just a couple of other customers we could sit anywhere and picked a booth. Due to the large size of the car park and the signs on all the tables saying ‘Truckers Special’ I’m guessing this is a regular stop for truckers.
Most of the seating is booths with just a few tables and chairs in the middle and 11 places at the counter.
Our server was, to put it bluntly, abrupt. She appeared rushed, which was strange seeing how empty the place was. To the other customers though she was friendly but to us, mere tourists, she was not. Tom order Portuguese scramble with linguica and English muffin and was told, in almost an accusing manner, that the muffin was 50c extra. I ordered the oatmeal, after checking that it was not instant oatmeal (’of course not, it’s made fresh every morning’) with a side of toast.
There is not a lot to say about the decor. A few bland flower pictures in gold frames and a sprig of artificial flowers on each table and that’s it. There are no quirky touches to make it memorable.
My oatmeal did not look very appetizing when it was plonked on the table in front of me. It was in a small white bowl on a small white plate but what immediately took my attention was the water it was swimming in. The best I can say about it is that it was not stodgy and overcooked and it was hot. On another plate were small plastic containers of brown sugar and raisins and a small plastic glass, a quarter full of milk. Tom’s scramble looked reasonable and he said the linguica was nice and spicy but on the negative side there was not enough egg, the cheese was not melted, the potatoes were not crispy and it as merely warm not hot. Also the coffee was weak and tasteless.
The restroom was large, clean and adequate but without a trace of ornamentation at all, it was soulless.
You can guess our verdict. It is not somewhere we would ever go to again and we certainly don’t recommend it.
April 12 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Before we headed to Palo Alto We checked where to have breakfast. We could not find anywhere on University Avenue, which is the main street of Palo Alto, but on California Avenue we found Joanie’s at 447 California Avenue. California Avenue is in a separate neighborhood and is about two miles from University and has a completely different feel about it. It used to be the main street in the town of Mayfield. Mayfield was incorporated into Palo Alto in 1925.
We have eaten here before in June of 2003 and were impressed. It is very small with just 5 tables for four and 9 for two with 3 places at the counter inside and a few tables outside. There are no booths. We arrived at 9.30, which is late for us, and the place was full so we had to wait for ten minutes. The first places to become available were at the counter so we took them. This is a first for me.
The service is quick and efficient and in no time at all we had our coffee and water and our order was taken. Tom ordered Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon ($9.50) and it was the usual oatmeal for me ($4.95). Back in 2003 the oatmeal was $4.00 so that is nearly a 25% increase in five years.
The only decoration in the place, apart from a large vase of fresh flowers on the counter, were a series of black and white photos around the walls. They were all done by the husband and wife team of Mark and Myshel Morgan and the photos were of London and San Tropez and Paris in France. Very impressive.
Our food was quick to arrive and it sure looked good. The Eggs Benedict looked really pretty and, for once, the hash browns did look extra crispy. It came with a small bowl of fruit containing sliced strawberries, cubes of melon and apple. My oatmeal came in a large, shallow bowl. On a separate plate were three toppings in stainless steel bowls - brown sugar, raisins and granola. I was asked whether I wanted full milk or reduced fat and chose the latter. It came hot and steamed in a white ceramic jug. The oatmeal looked very white so I’m guessing it was cooked in milk and not water.
A quick trip to the restroom but it wasn’t very noteworthy. It was very small with just one small picture on the wall entitled ‘Arles Flowerbox, France’.
We both loved the food and highly recommend it. It is a happy, bustling place with a very nice atmosphere and the service is great.
March 23 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
This is the wildest, wackiest diner in Silicon Valley. For a start it is in Woodside. Now for
those of you not from the Bay Area, who do not know Woodside, I will try to describe it. The town itself is upmarket. Built to look like an old town, it is obviously new and high class. The main businesses are investment banks and realtors. There is a gourmet market and a picture framing shop. The residents must do most of their shopping in Palo Alto. The Post Office looks like a fort. Folks like Steve Jobs (Apple) and Larry Ellison (Oracle) call Woodside home.
There is a lot of history to Buck’s (by history I’m not talking centuries here but decades). People say many Silicon Vally deals and great ideas were drawn up on a Buck’s napkin. It is claimed to be the haunt of a lot of well known faces and/or names. For more information check out their website.
It opens at 8 on a Sunday and we were there when the doors opened. There were already a few people waiting when we turned up. Inside it is large. The seating is mostly booths but there are some tables and chairs and off to the side there are 5 stools at the counter. We were told we could sit anywhere we liked. Our first choice would have been a booth in the window but the sun was directly in my eyes and I couldn’t see any blinds. (I did notice later that there were blinds but well disguised.) We chose a booth further back.
Our server was very friendly and told us the special - a stack of 2 buttermilk pancakes layered with ricotta cheese, kiwi fruit, strawberries and bananas ($12), so Tom went for that. I ordered oatmeal with strawberries. Now here is an interesting point. I wrote a review of Buck’s five years ago almost to the day and the oatmeal then was exactly the same price as today ($4.50). Back then I also had banana and strawberries for an extra $1.50 so we will find out later how much they have gone up.
Now to the interior of Buck’s and this is its most outstanding feature. I can sum it up in one word - stuffed. I don’t know where to begin, so I’ll start with the first thing you see as you walk in the door - a six foot plus replica of the Statue of Liberty with a string of mardi gras beads and a stethoscope around her neck. That should give you an inkling of what to expect.
From there my eyes wandered to the ceiling. Suspended were 13 large objects and that’s just in the front part of the diner. There is a helicopter, a blimp, a flying horse, a monkey in a sled, an old bi-plane, a copper surfboard, three large fish, a strange looking gas powered wooden go-kart, an airplane, a yellow wooden car smashing through the wall and a log cabin. Phew!
Every wall is covered not only in pictures, some huge, but an amazing range of objects. So many in fact I will only name a few - a case of harmonicas, a size 23 shoe, about a dozen brightly colored ceramic cows, an old squash racket and hundreds of miniature tools and utensils. Believe me, you just have to come here and see for yourself.
We didn’t have to wait very long for our food to be served. Tom’s buttermilk pancakes looked pretty and good and came with a small jug of warm maple syrup. My oatmeal came on a large, round, decorated plate with the oatmeal in a large shallow bowl. Also on the plate were a small plastic bowl of compacted brown sugar, a small green bowl of golden raisins and a small ceramic jug of milk. The strawberries came sliced in a side bowl.
The food was good, no question about it and Tom said the coffee was very good which, coming from Tom, is high praise indeed.
Now the restrooms. For a start allow half an hour for the trip not because of long lines but because there is an wonderful array of things to look at. There were two restrooms, one for men and one for women. Each one was a large room. In the womens there was a table in the corner with a very old child’s three wheeler. On the walls were three interesting pictures and one on the door. The facilities themselves were very basic but adequate.
Our verdict - pretty darn good. In fact, one of the best. A visit here will have you leaving feeling good. OK, the buttermilk pancakes were a little on the expensive side, but hey, this is Woodside where some of the richest people in Silicon Valley reside. We certainly recommend it as a must go to place for breakfast. By the way, the strawberries were free or at least we were not charged for them.
March 16 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
Hobees used to be our favorite place for breakfast when I first came here but it’s been a while since we have eaten here. We are on our way to Sunnyvale Farmers Market and decided to revisit an old haunt.
Nothing much seems to have changed. The greeter is the same one that has always been here and one of the servers I recognized as well.
At the weekends it opens at 8 and we arrived soon after so there were lots of empty tables. We were shown to a four seater booth in the window, which pleased us as Tom likes the bigger booths so he can read the newspaper comfortably. I noticed that the upholstery on the back of the booth had been ripped which didn’t look too great. Looking around, the place needs some work done as it is looking a bit run down.
The menu hasn’t changed either but they always have about five specials. Tom had coffee and I had their orange and cinnamon house tea. I do like it but it is a bit on the sweet side. Both coffee and tea is $1.90 with free refills. Tom ordered the weekend scramble for 9.95 with coffee cake (another of their specialalities). Me, well I always have oatmeal here because it is a bit different. It’s not steel cut unfortunately but there is an oatmeal bar where you help yourself to as much as you want for $4.75. What I particularly like are the choice of toppings - brown sugar, raisins, walnuts, sliced almonds, cranberries, shredded coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg. There are small pieces of coffee cake to sample as well. I did ask the server for some blueberries on the side for 50c. She told me they were frozen, so I asked if they were still frozen but I could tell my humor was lost on her when she asked if I wanted them warmed up.
I went straight up to the oatmeal bar - with luck I will be able to get a second helping in. The oatmeal was a bit runny but I’ve seen worse. The bowls are not very big but that’s OK as there is always seconds. I added cranberries, walnuts, coconut and cinnamon. The milk is in a bit jug on the side so of course I had some of that as well.
I had nearly finished my first bowl of oatmeal before Tom got his scramble but he was quite happy reading the paper. He informed me that there may not be a King salmon fishing season this year which is a terrible blow. One of our favorite meals is BBQed salmon and we look forward with anticipation to May each year when the King salmon season starts. The experts are forecasting that the numbers of salmon returning to the Sacramento River to spawn have dropped dramatically so to safeguard the numbers the fishing season is likely to be canceled.
I did my usual review of the surroundings. As I mentioned before, the place does need to be redecorated. There are quite a few artificial plants around and they all look rather sad. Each table though does have a small , real , plant in a Hobbees mug which is a nice touch. There are no pictures as such but there are a few old framed adverts for products like Waldorf apples, Aranci oranges and Morjon apples. There are also a couple of very small photos on the far wall but it was impossible to see what they were off. They do have a Kids Corner with a small table and two chairs and a box of toys. On the wall near the restrooms is a large noticeboard with a collection of photographs taken all over the world where customers are wearing Hobees T-shirts. I saw no adverts though for the T-shirts. Maybe you can buy them online.
I did go up for seconds of oatmeal though I didn’t have a full bowl the second time around.
And of course I did pay a trip to the restroom. Like the restaurant, they are in desperate need of refurbishment. They were clean and well equipped and the water was plenty hot enough but the partitions are battered and very rusty down the bottom. There was one picture in there but it wasn’t on the wall. Maybe it had been once upon a time, now it is just leaning against the wall. A nice vase of artificial flowers does brighten the place up a bit.
Our verdict on the food was mediocre. Tom said the scramble was OK, the coffee was weak and not very hot and the coffee cake was not up to their usual standard. As I mentioned before, the oatmeal was a little runny but the toppings were great. The blueberries were awful - soggy and tasteless. The tea was good though.
All in all, our visit was a little disappointing. But our trip to the Farmers Market was great. We bought some fresh sturgeon from the fish stall and some asparagus grown in the San Joaquin Delta. We also bought a bottle of Bistro Blend made by John Spenger - the very best balsamic vinegar we have ever found. Plus we spent 20 minutes sitting, watching the world go by and listening to the lady street musician who was wearing the most fantastic hat. It was a lovely sunny day which just made everything perfect.
March 10 2008 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
We are on our way to the Big Sur coast. Yesterday I looked online to see what was available for breakfast in Carmel. This place had good reviews so that is why we are here. It is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. and we rolled up just as it opened.
From the outside it looks pretty and upscale, as do most places in Carmel. Overlooking the street is a deck with tables and chairs but today is too cold to contemplate that. Later in the day I’m sure that is the place to see and be seen.
So we opted for inside. The entrance is at the side which is a bit confusing. There was a guy sweeping up and Tom asked him if there was anywhere to buy a newspaper. He pointed out a newsstand a few feet away but it was hidden from sight. Also outside are benches, magazines, noticeboards and a huge coffee dispenser which I am sure will all be needed later on when it gets busy.
Inside it is not very big and the tables are small. It seats just 50 with 6 seats at the counter plus about 20 outside. There are no booths. There were only three other customers but our server appeared rushed and was not very friendly.
The menu is huge and the choice vast. I checked out the oatmeal straight away and, guess what, they serve steel cut oatmeal. My prayers have been answered. The prices are pretty steep but, hey, this is Carmel. The oatmal was $8.50 but if comes with toast. I also ordered a side of fruit which was a hefty $2.95. Tom ordered a Joe’s Special which was $12.95. He also had coffee which was $2.95. I stayed with the water, which was free.
The decor is very good and pleasing to the eye. Lots of nice pictures on the walls. Near where we sat were some old adverts for Sunkist lemons and various other food items. The windows have well tended window boxes on the outside.
We didn’t have long to wait for the food. Mine came on a huge oval plate with a large, shallow dish filled with oatmeal. Also crammed on the plate were two small plastic pots - one with sugar and one with butter, a good sized stainless jug of low fat milk (I was asked which milk I would like), 4 half slices of unbuttered wheat toast (my request) and a fair sized ceramic bowl holding the fruit. The oatmeal was good but less nutty than what I make at home. I’m not complaining though because at least it is steel cut. The fruit was great - blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and slices of strawberries. I asked Tom what he thought of his and he said ‘OK’. He was not impressed with the coffee though.
I was not disappointed with the restroom. There were two unisex restrooms but I only checked out one. It was the best I have used for some time. Clean, bright, big, well-equipped and sweet smelling. There was a lace curtain at the window and nice prints on the walls. The water was good and hot.
Our verdict - very expensive and not really worth the extra even taking into account Carmel prices but the place is nice and well appointed.
March 02 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
If you ever find Bolinas, this is a great place for breakfast. Mind you, today it’s gone 11 so I suppose your could call it brunch.
The Coast Cafe is easy to find in the middle of town. There is seating inside and out and it has a very pleasant, laid back feeling about it.
This is not your typical diner sort of breakfast joint. As this is Bolinas, it is bound to be different. For a start, there are no booths or seats at the counter, just lots of wooden tables and chairs. There is even one very big table that seats 12. While we were there, several small groups ate at this table and, even though they didn’t know each other, they happily chatted together.
We decided to eat inside and could sit anywhere we liked. Our choice was a long table for two at the back near the counter. Our order was taken soon after we sat down. I ordered oatmeal ($4.50) with a side of wheat toast ($1.75). I asked if they served steelcut oats, this being a very organic, environmentally conscious community, but they didn’t. Tom ordered a French Omlette from the Specials List ($10) with English Muffin.
Let me tell you about one of the locals who was standing near us at the counter. She was a lady wearing a paint spattered jacket, old jeans and non matching, multicolored hiking boots. Round her neck she had a garish, wooden parrot on a rope. But the one thing that really caught our eye was her hat. Obviously her own creation as it was made out of twigs, newspaper and string. People like this are a common sight in Bolinas and nobody turned a hair. It’s a place where you can wear and do whatever you like.
Now to the decor. Definitley coastal. From the ceiling are suspended 12 surf boards, mostly old fashioned, wooden ones and some of them are huge. Glass floats in net bags and assorted floats are everywhere. There are several original paintings and framed photographs on the wall. A nice touch were the shelves attached to the walls filled with books, dolls and assorted objects. But the best feature is the old fashioned, pot bellied boiler in the corner which was lit and provided a real homely feel to the place.
We didn’t have too long to wait for our food. My oatmeal came in a big, deep green ceramic bowl on a huge red plate. The brown sugar and raisins came in small white ceramic pots. The milk in an old fashioned silver jug with a lid. The jam was home made strawberry. It was all scrumptious. Tom’s omelette had goat cheese, green onions, mushrooms and tarragon in it. The home fries had a seasoning on them which added to the taste. His verdict - excellent. We both loved the jam.
I asked for directions to the restroom and the server pointed to the floor and told me to follow the frog footsteps. How charming. They led out of the door, across the patio to the restroom. Inside was an entrance room with two doors leading to two stalls. In the entrance were two old bar stools and a blue wooden cupboard with a mirror on the front. The stalls could only be described as rustic. No decoration at all but an unusual touch was the toilet roll holder and the paper towel container which were both made out of small planks of dark brown wood.
We really enjoyed the food, the service, the ambiance of the place and it certainly is near the top of our list of places to go for a great breakfast. Needless to say, we will be back.
February 17 2008 | Breakfast Log | No Comments »
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