I'm a regular here and this is a go-to spot for my dad and I who meet and eat once a week. This is an honest, retro diner where the food is diner standard and fairly priced. They feature mature waitresses who get to know you and remember your drink preference and needs within just a couple visits, and will ask about your family from after the first time they meet them. The hostesses remember where you like to be seated. How's your kid doing? He's getting so big, etc. In a cold corporate world in which you feel like a number, you'll always feel seen here, and welcomed! It's a diner, not a gastropub, so this place is about roadside comfort standard fair-- good pancakes, decent burgers, a strong club sando, good enough salads, nice omelettes, and well browned, crisp hash browns.
Pro tips:
They will sub one pancake for toast at no charge, rare in this market, and delicious!
The "Senior and Light Meals" omelets are hands down one of the best values (10.29!!) in the Sacramento breakfast market, bar none. You'll get a two egg omelet that eats like a three egger, a good slab of crisp hash browns, plus toast or a pancake. They'll most often will make other omelettes for you not listed as choices, but do remember, *that's up to them.
On occasion the burger buns are not well caramelized and tend to not hold up to the moisture through the entire eat, so if that's important to you, specify that to the server--they're always happy to accommodate your needs!
If you want any pink in your burger, you need to say so.
The French fries are nearly always hot and crisp, crunch when you bite them, and are well salted.
They have fantastic milkshakes, awesome after a burger on a hot day!
The head waitress, Jennifer, loves Disneyland, and loves to chat about it and exchange stories! So fun. If you love the park, tell her!
Room for improvement;:
The Daily specials tend to be meh, though there are a few exceptions. On occasion they feature a delicious chicken enchiladas special, for example. If they'd throw two fried eggs atop that, I'd order it every time I was in for breakfast! I would also love to see Huevos Rancheros on the menu as well.
During Covid they had tables out in front of the diner in the shade and a nice patio in back. I miss that on mild summer mornings!
I'd love raw veggies and ranch dressing as a sides option, even at a modest upcharge as a sub for fries.
The tables desperately need balancing/new feet on the legs. A wobbly table is a foodie buzzkill...
This is a great place for you if you miss the 70's and 80's, and you won't find friendlier people or more honest food. Objectively this diner is a hair above a four, but in my heart it's a five.
**Update: When I was in today, Jennifer told me they added Huevos Ranchers in addition to the enchilada special on Mondays, and busted my chops for not turning up! I will definitely be there next Monday to try their version of the Tex-Mex breakfast staple! Did I mention they are always happy to do whatever they can to make you happy...I just love these people! read more