What Restaurant Do You Most Miss?

Phillip Bailey October 1, 2012 at 05:25 pm

TGD:
The 1139 Club on San Carlos ave was a must for most locals for purposes you mentioned. Places like Antone’s on 37th San Mateo or even San Mateo's ClubShorVu (Club Shoreview), Yuppies on B St/San Mateo, Teddy B's Bar on ECR/San Mateo, Orchid Room/San Carlos, Bucky's on South Blvd in SM were/have been classified as "Dive Bars" or "Joints" at one time or another however what is important is their regular customers enjoy each and every one for various down home reasons. Taco Bell spot @ 20th and ECR in San Mateo once had a 19 cent hamburger joint called Big Burgers. My neighbor says there was a huge hangout at 12th and ECR West side named Hambones Pizza and it later moved in or near the Villa Hotel. 36th Avenue and ECR/SM had Kibbey's Drive Inn...and in a residential neighborhood of SM @ 16th and So. B. Street there was a pre-hippie bar called the Black Egg. We always walked on the other side of the street when we got off the train at Hayward Park Train Station. Espostos' Sandwiches Original Spot at 1119 So B. Street moved to South Blvd and now at Borel Shopping Center. Joan: How about Theaters that closed? San Mateo Theater near Ben Franklin Hotel (which also closed Greenwillow Room) Manor Theater 25th/San Mateo Palm Theater (Before it went to the Dark Side) SM Millbrae Theater Bel-Mateo Theater (Planet Granite)

TGD October 1, 2012 at 05:55 pm

"How about Theaters that closed?"
The Carlos Theater on San Carlos Avenue. The Fox and the Laurel on Laurel Ave. We use to go to Saturday matinees when I was a kid (Jason and the Argonauts). The ultimate somewhat local night spot was the Keystone in Palo Alto.

Joan S. Dentler (Editor) October 1, 2012 at 06:29 pm

Good suggestion on the local theaters that are no longer. Will save that one for a subsequent article!

Joan S. Dentler (Editor) October 1, 2012 at 06:31 pm

This is a relatively recent one, but my kids and I really used to like Luna's (on the site now occupied by Godfather's Burgers). Great Mexican food with a nice staff and they didn't care if your kids came in wearing baseball cleats :)

DN October 1, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Fast Freddie's Pizza in San Carlos. Their unique sourdough crust was the best! I remember ordering 10 pizzas for a birthday party and "Papa Freddie" himself delivered them (after he sold the store to another guy).

DN October 1, 2012 at 10:28 pm

Fast Freddie's Pizza in San Carlos. Their unique sourdough crust was the best! I remember ordering 10 pizzas for a birthday party and "Papa Freddie" himself delivered them (after he sold the store to another guy).

Julie October 2, 2012 at 02:20 am

Well, this has certainly been a trip down memory lane - have lived in San Carlos since 71 and have seen many places come and go. So fun to read about some of the places we used to frequent : )

Kali October 2, 2012 at 05:14 am

I agree Joan. We do need a great BBQ joint. My husband and travel the states alot and have had some of the best BBQ ever. St. Louis, Kansis City MO, Austin, ( anywhere in Texas ), etc.. I think there is a place in Oakland called "Everett and Jones" that we tried awhile ago. Really Good. Anyway, I agree!! We need a mix-up in San Carlos.. Enough of the up scale and duplicate type of resturants.

Kali October 2, 2012 at 05:15 am

I remember The Castaways! great place.

Kali October 2, 2012 at 05:24 am

Wow, the Places I've heard from you all that were here in San Carlos sounded so good. Have lived here about 9 years, ( from Danville so not too far away ), but the food everyone mentioned sounded great.
Maybe we should band together and try to solicit some down home businesses to come our way. Places where you can enjoy a good meal, have fun, and your wallet isn't bleeding when you leave.

Joan S. Dentler (Editor) October 2, 2012 at 12:17 pm

Thanks Julie.....and remember, Patch is YOUR site---so if you'd ever like to send me some ideas on other ways to take a "trip down memory lane" I'm happy to post another story----or, if you'd like to write one from your perspective as a 40+ years resident, that would be awesome. Just email me at joan.dentler@patch.com

Phillip Bailey October 2, 2012 at 05:47 pm

Here is my current vote for a restaurant to move into SC, Belmont, San Mateo, Foster City area. Whenever in Gilroy or Salinas, we stop in. It is a must. No offense to Hola's at Carlmont Shopping Center but a Black Bear Diner would be great in that spot.
http://blackbeardiner.com/

Marianne October 3, 2012 at 01:27 am

I LOVED MESSINA'S TOO!!!

Juli Balestrieri October 3, 2012 at 02:08 am

The Clam House was a separate location from Luceti's. the Clam House is now a Phillipino restaurant called Mana

Janet October 4, 2012 at 06:06 pm

I recall The Doll House being at the corner of White Oak Way and El Camino Real

Janet October 4, 2012 at 06:13 pm

I sure do! My best friend got her first job there 44 and a half years ago!

Janet October 4, 2012 at 06:16 pm

Cheshire Piizza is where The Doll House used to be...There were kids' coloring of the 3 Bears all over the walls

Janet October 4, 2012 at 06:26 pm

Since I was born and raised in San Carlos, and just recently celebrated my big 6-0, I am amazed how many establishments have come and gone...it's hard to remember the old ones! I do remember tthough t
he first pizza parlor in the area back in the fifties was Me N' Ed's in RWC...

gary November 25, 2012 at 09:06 pm

Sirloin and Brew was located where Ihop is on El Camino close to McDonalds. I remember it was free beer and wine with your meal.

Margaret December 4, 2012 at 12:19 pm

I loved the Lanai - not only the LANAI - but the Villa Chartier as well. Many good memories at both places. One other restaurant I miss is Scotty Campbell's in Redwood City

Sherri Garoutte December 6, 2012 at 01:36 pm

Lucia's still has one site on Woodside Road in RWC. Same great food!

Mike Carney February 12, 2013 at 01:20 pm

I remember Happy Host having a double decker hamburger like McDonalds Big Mac and I always wondered if McDonalds "borrowed" the idea. MCD's claims they invented it in '67, when was Happy Host in business?

Mike Carney February 12, 2013 at 01:21 pm

It is warming to read about the places we used to frequent as kids or young adults.

Dennis April 3, 2013 at 07:03 pm

I remember the Sidewinder Sling at the Lanai. What a drink!

Dennis April 3, 2013 at 07:07 pm

Farrels Ice Cream Parlor was a full restaurant, btw, we used to eat dinner there in the 70s and I had my birthday parties there.

Joe April 6, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Being a native to the Peninsula, these comments bring back some great memories. So many great restaurants that I enjoyed and now miss. I was a little surprised, however, that no one mentioned Vic's on San Carlos Ave. It was great breakfast place. I think I liked it best before they expanded, even if there was usually a line on weekends. But sometimes you waited in line with some pretty famous 49ers!
Joe F.

Dennis April 6, 2013 at 05:38 pm

We ate at the Happy Host in the early 70s but it was around before that I think. I remember the light-up world timezone map they used to have at the front of the restaurant. The restaurant was like a Denny's or IHoP.

Rex April 7, 2013 at 12:58 am

Where was Happy Host?

George Metropulos April 7, 2013 at 01:24 am

Happy Host was where IHOP is now. It was similar to Lyon's, but better! We used to go there after our plays at Carlmont, and have coffee and french fries. We knew the waitresses, and they let us sit there all night. There was a lollipop tree by the cash register, and you got a big lollipop on your way out.

Sue S April 9, 2013 at 01:43 pm

So many memories! Anyone remember The Red Barn in Redwood City? Similar to a McDonalds?