| 101 Cafe, 631 S Coast
Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 722-5220
|
I haven't been here yet, but it looks
like a nice place from the pictures I was
sent. The
owner provided the following information: It
was opened in 1928 as a twenty seat diner.
Of course in California we did not have
classic diners, but we did come close with
some of our little cafes. They added 40 more
seats in 1937 making it a full service
restaurant in the very busy US Highway 101.
It was of course named after the Highway.
The Greyhound bus even stopped in front for
many years. The cafe provided curb-service
in the early 40's. And of course we know
that curb-service was the first reference to
drive-in service. The Cafe was remodeled in
1954 to reflect the newest crave Drive-Ins. An
overhang was added to the building and
covered parking was added along the North
property line to provided for about forty
spaces. The new owner "Bushie" Graham
changed the name to Graham's Drive-In.
My partner and I took over the property
about twenty years ago. It had been renamed
Randy's Coffee Shop. Later we brought back
the original name, 101 Cafe. We have kept
the Cafe looking just as it did in the 50's.
It is our privilege to own the oldest cafe
on Highway 101 on the entire West Coast. We
have worked hard to promote the Cafe using
the Historic Highway 101 as a big part of
those promotions. The State of California
designated the 101 Highway as Historic in
1998.
|
| Bali Hai Restaurant,
2230 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego
(619) 222 - 1181
 |
One of the great original, historic Tiki
restaurants, although now somewhat less
intensely Tiki. Much of interest still
remains. The original Bali Hai Tiki mug may
perhaps be the "holy grail" for collectors
(I guess I'm exaggerating a bit). The
restaurant's main symbol, "the goof" is no
longer politically correct but it appears he
has been repainted to mask his origins in
ancient history.
Located on beautiful Shelter Island, once
one of the ultimate Tiki destinations
including several other Tiki hotels. This is
one of the last original Tiki restaurant in Southern
California along with Sam's Seafood, now that the Island's Restaurant
is being remodeled (well, perhaps including
the Royal Hawaiian in Laguna Beach - I
haven't seen the interior recently).
There are some nice recreations of Tiki
places, but we need to have some of the
historic ones to fully remember "the way we
were".
 |
| China Inn, 877
Hornblend St, San Diego, CA 92109 858
483-6680 T T
 |
This restaurant dates I believe from the
80's but the interior looks like it has
remnants from an older place in the 50's or
60's. A mildly old school place in Pacific
Beach. I thought the food was pretty
good. This would be a nice place to convert
into a Tiki Type Chinese restaurant if the
owner is wise.
 |
| Filippi's Pizza Grotto,
1747 India St, San Diego,
619-232-5094 Since 1950
 |
This restaurant is a true San Diego treasure.
There are now quite a few Filippi's
Restaurants in
Southern California. They are all owned by
relatives of the founder and amazingly they
all seem to be able to consistently
reproduce the original dishes with equal
quality. My favorite location is of course
the original location to the left. When you
walk in - you are first in a small Italian
food market with great ethnic aromas. Then
there is the dark restaurant with murals and
a nice old patina. Chianti bottles hang
from the ceiling. This place combines great
time machine ambiance with the best Italian
food I have ever had. No - it's not the fancy stuff that you find in
overpriced "upscale" Italian places. This
is the homemade down to earth cooking that
is almost impossible to find anywhere else
and at rock bottom prices. If I have any
complaints about Filippi's, it's that they
have forever spoiled me, so that I can't
enjoy most other Italian restaurants (Miceli's
Restaurant in Hollywood and Casale's
Half-Way Club in Reno, NV
being an exception), now that I
no longer live in San Diego. I was
always a big fan
of East coast pizza (the super thin kind),
yet they converted me to their style - ultra thick
and pounds of cheese. It was the first time
I was able to find a fantastic pizza on the
West coast. Their marinara sauce is
truly unparalleled. Need I mention you should visit
this place!!! UPDATE: A
recent visit confirmed that this place still
has the same great food and ambiance,
despite the fact that the area has become
quite touristy. The only difference I
could divine was that they didn't have the
great fresh baked Italian bread I used to
love. Maybe they were just out the day
I was there.
Near Hob Nob Hill, Mister Tiki, the
Tivoli bar, the Sun Cafe and the
Santa Fe Depot. |
| The Fireside - 435 W. Washington,
Escondido, CA
 |
A nice old place for over 50 years. This
is now in danger apparently it may be sold.
Escondido doesn't have many other places as
nice as this one. Good stop off between San
Diego and Riverside. UPDATE: Yep -
it's a dirt lot now. Were all those
customers for over fifty years mistaken
about the quality of this place? I guess we
need yet another chain restaurant in
Escondido. Our history slowly disappears. |
| Golden West Hotel,
720 4th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 (619)
233-7594
|
This classic art deco hotel was designed
by Frank Lloyd Wright's son, Lloyd Wright
for working men of modest means.
As a rather naive youth of 20 some years of
age, I got off a Trailways bus in downtown
San Diego after having started out in Howard
County Maryland with a $70 go anywhere
ticket. Before the rejuvenation of the
Gaslamp Quarter, this hotel was in a pretty
rough area but, compared to Baltimore - it
looked pretty good to me. I stayed here for
$20 a week until I got my feet on the
ground. A very good deal in the late 70's.
Don't know what the prices are like today. A
recent quick peek in the lobby gave me the
impression the place is wonderfully
unchanged (I'll let you do a more thorough
investigation). Very historic place. |
| Harry's Coffee Shop, 7545 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, CA (858) 454-7381
since 1960
|
This is the last of what was
historically three classic coffee shops in La
Jolla. This is the type of place where
everything is made from scratch. Killer
breakfasts and at prices that are pretty
fair for La Jolla. While we are on the
subject of La Jolla, it's getting harder and
harder to find food at reasonable prices in
La Jolla (and try to find a bathroom when
you're walking on Prospect Ave!) But the La
Jolla Cove area is in my opinion, one of the
most beautiful places in the world. These
days you can almost always see seals camped
out on the beach at the children's beach. Ah, those Emerald green
waves! And children love the tide pools.
The closest I've ever been to paradise!
Near the La Valencia Hotel (the Whaling Bar) and the Marine
Room (Raymond Chandler heaven!)
Photo by Sarah C. |
| Hob Nob Hill, 2271 First Ave. San Diego,
CA 619-239-8176
since 1944
 |
This old historic coffee shop dates from 1944.
Somewhat remodeled but still with an old
time feel. A bit hard to find, in a less
traveled area of downtown San Diego. Plenty
of comfort foods made from scratch. A San
Diego institution. A place this hidden has
got to be great in order to survive all of
these years. Near Filippi's Italian
restaurant, Mister Tiki, the Tivoli bar and the Santa Fe Station.
 |
| Hotel Del Coronado (1888 James & Merritt
Reid) Coronado, CA
The Del, photo, (1910)(George Wharton James) |
Built at a cost of one million dollars (a princely sum in 1888) - this
historic hotel is
generally well preserved.
Great place to go for Christmas with very
nostalgic Christmas decorations. An old
hand operated cage elevator in the lobby. I had my wedding reception here
(and it was an exceptionally good deal!). This
is where they filmed "Some Like it Hot" in 1958.
Said to be the inspiration for the towers in
the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz books.
L. Frank Baum, who lived in Coronado, is said to have designed the
curious looking giant crowns in the Crown
Room. It is believed that in 1920 Edward
Prince of Wales first ran into Wallis
Simpson (a divorced woman who Edward later
married. This required him giving up
the thrown in the U.K. since such things
were not done back then - my how things have
changed!). There appears to be an imitation of
the "Del" in Primm, Nevada.
Truly a must see for anyone visiting San
Diego. Few places in town can match the
history of this hotel. Even if you don't stay here,
unlike most hotels, the management of the
Del Coronado encourages the public to stroll
around and visit the many shops and
restaurants inside.
They have done quite a bit of remodeling
inside, but fortunately no one in their
right mind would remodel the rich, dark
woods in the lobby. This is a big slice of
San Diego history.
The Del, sketch, 1888 (Walter Lindley)
|
| Humphrey's Half Moon Inn & Suites, 2303
Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, CA 619 224-3411
 |
Another surviving Tiki location (but
with very few Tiki's left) - the classic "A"
frame entrance still survives. The nearby
Kona Inn has been completely de-Tikified.
Perhaps when businesses realize the new
hunger for all things Tiki, they will re-Tikify
these places. It certainly would not be
hard to do at Humphrey's.
Humphrey's by the
Bay Restaurant with decorations that were
once part of the now defunct Tiki Theme. |
| Islands Restaurant-
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 2270 Hotel Circle
N., San Diego, CA 92108
619-297-1101 T T
T T
 |
As far as I know (correct me if I'm
wrong), this, along with the Bali Hai, Sam's
Seafood and
the Royal Hawaiian are the last of the original
(50's-60's era) Tiki Restaurants in Southern
California (the Tiki Ti and Tonga Hut's are bars). It is fairly
unique among all Tiki places in that the
decorations are authentic cultural artifacts
from Hawaii (not the Americanized
conglomeration of cultures and fantasy of
most Tiki places). The prices are
reasonable, the food good and the staff
friendly. Relaxing waterfalls. I
guess it has been somewhat remodeled but you
would never know it. It's really a
beautiful Tiki restaurant albeit a little
less campy than most.
Unfortunately the
former Hanalei Hotel (now Crowne Plaza) itself is fairly di-Tikified,
but there are nice remnants here and there
(and it's an attractive hotel in any event). Please
patronize this great restaurant. We
need at least one of the original Tiki
Restaurants in Southern California to
survive. The new Tiki places springing
up are pleasant, but they don't give you that
time machine feeling. Perhaps the
greatest Tiki massacre of our time was the
di-Tikification of San Diego Shelter Island
(except what survives at the Bali Hai). If
you don't eat at these places on a regular
basis - you have no right to complain when
they are gone.
UPDATE: ARGHHHH! The
place is being completely remodeled. Some
elements may remain, but it's going to be a
tropical, rather than a Tiki restaurant. How
can this happen given the rebirth of Tiki?
In the 50's it was the general populace that
was into Tiki rather than an enlightened subset of
the population. Military vets coming
back from the war in the Pacific longed for
the tranquility of the islands (at least
when bombs were not dropping!). I guess there are not
enough hip, arty and intellectual people out
there to sustain these places. Why the
general populace would not love this place
is beyond me. Maybe if they served Big Macs?
I haven't been to this hotel since it became
the Crowne Plaza. Why do I suspect the
new owners had something to do with this???
Near Rudford's, the San
Diego Chicken Pie Shop and The Red Fox Room. |
| La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect
St. La Jolla, CA 858-454-0771, 800-451-0772.
since 1926
The lobby
Part of the Whaling
Bar |
This hotel, along with the Del Coronado,
are my favorite historic hotels in San
Diego. The La Valencia (with a
fictitious name) was featured in the Raymond
Chandler story "Playback", along with the
Santa Fe station and I believe the Marine
Room restaurant. In the story La Jolla is
called "Esmeralda" which is appropriate
given the emerald waves of La Jolla.
Chandler spent his last years living in La
Jolla. His old home is still there, but I'll
let you do the homework in finding it.
The La Valencia is well preserved with a
beautiful lobby overlooking the ocean.
The Whaling Bar in the hotel is a classic
bar with an old mural. It's one of the
best classic bars in San Diego (along with
the Red Fox Room and the Turf Supper Club).
When you stop in the Whaling Bar with luck
you will meet Rey, the bartender there for
more than 47 years! He's met all the greats
who have visited the hotel. Have lunch at
the bar with their great sourdough bread.
This place has sort of the same feel as
Musso and Frank's in Los Angeles. If you can
afford it, you can't go wrong staying at the
La Valencia (which has a rich history with
early Hollywood stars as well). As
I've said in other places on this
site, I think the beach in La Jolla is one
of the most beautiful places in the world
(the cove area).
The La Jolla Cove -
paradise on earth!
Near Harry's Coffee Shop
and the Marine Room. |
| Marine Room, 2000
Spindrift Dr. La Jolla, CA 92037 858
459-7222 (since 1941)
T T
 |
Surprisingly, despite the fact I used to
spend as much spare time as possible in La
Jolla (the cove area is truly paradise), I
never got out to the Marine Room until
recently. It's way over my budget anyway,
but I stopped in early for a drink (no
O'Doul's here - but they had some more
expensive version and quite good). The is
always a smart move to get to see the
interior of a place you could never afford
to eat at (at least unless it was a very,
very special occasion). The Marine
Room is really worth a visit. While it's
been almost completely remodeled (of
necessity since the ocean has broken through
twice in its history!), the bar area still
has a very nice time machine feel (one of
those old irregularly curved bars). Of
course, this place has one of the best views
in the world since it is literally right on
the La Jolla shore beach (well I guess the
view varies a bit depending on who is
frolicking around in a bikini). Massive
windows let you look out onto this glorious
beach. I'll let you go to their site for the
full history. Pictures in the
restaurant of the times the waves broke into
the place are fascinating. I'm pretty sure
this place is mentioned or referred to by a
fictitious name in Raymond Chandler's story
"Playback", but I'll have to double check.
Chandler lived in La Jolla the last 20 years
of his life and undoubtedly ate here, as
well as Dr. Seuss, also a La Jolla resident
(what a strange novel they could have
co-wrote! The Cat and the Big Sleep?
The Long Green Eggs and Ham? Horton Hears a
Silencer!).
 |
| Mister Tiki Mai Tai
Lounge, 801 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA
92101
 |
This place is a new Tiki creation.
They've done a nice job. Not an
inexpensive place, but worth a visit.
Parking is very tight in the Gas Lamp
Quarter, so you probably should use the
valet. I guess you have to walk a fine line
in making a new Tiki place commercially
viable. If you appeal only to Tiki
purists, you won't have enough patrons to
support the place (the best example of this
was the Venus Bar in Las Vegas that would
have past most Tiki purist tests). This
place strikes a balance in appealing to some
Tiki diehards, as well as attracting people
just looking for an exotic or upscale place.
It appears to be quite a success.
Near Filippi's Italian Restaurant, the
Tivoli Bar, the Sun Cafe, the Santa Fe Station
and not far from the Turf Supper Club. |
| The Red Fox Room, 2223 El Cajon
Blvd San Diego 619-297-1313
T T T T T
 |
In one of my life's great ironies (you
can tell I lead a mundane life), I lived for
many months within a few blocks of this
place and never went in. I guess I wasn't
interested in time machines at the time.
Upon a reader's suggestion, I returned.
This place is pure Time Machine with a very
interesting history. The interior was
brought over from England by Marion Davies
for her Malibu beach house. When she tired
of it, it was put into storage and
eventually incorporated into the Red Fox
Room. The interior comes from an
English Pub or Inn dating from the 1500's.
Where else in San Diego can you find
something as historic as this. Why isn't this place in
every tour book in bold letters? A one of a
kind!
Very close to the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop
and Rudford's Restaurant. |
Rudford's Restaurant,
2900 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego 619-282-8423
since 1949
|
Fairly remodeled inside, although the
exterior is still pretty nice, with a Googie
sign. Good food - cheap and historic. El Cajon Blvd.
was once the main highway in and out of
town. Not as historic as Rt. 66, but as
close as you will get in San Diego. Very close the San Diego Chicken Pie
Shop and the Red Fox Room. |
| The San Diego Chicken Pie Shop, 2633 El Cajon Blvd, 619/295-0156 since
1939
 |
Although this is a relatively "new"
location (the original was in Hillcrest -
this one dates from about 1980 or so),
the food is very historic and the place has
a classic feel. It's the Perino's of
the working class! Where else in the world can
you get a "from scratch" chicken pie dinner for $5.50 with
a homemade fresh baked chicken pie, fresh Cole slaw, veggies,
freshly baked rolls (and they are really,
really good!) and choice of freshly baked
fruit pie. Truly the best bargain in San
Diego (perhaps the world!). It's located on "El Cajon Blvd"
which used to be the main roadway in and out
of San Diego and has a number of historical
remnants of the past similar to highway 66.
This restaurant in its own modest and humble
way is classic, unadulterated
American culture. If your not a snobbish,
everything must be upscale type (this coming
from a guy who loves the Beverly Hills Hotel
and the Bel Air Hotel!) - this is a must see
place on any trip to San Diego, along with
the La Jolla Cove, the Turf Club, Filippi's
and the Red Fox Room. By the way, I believe
this place, like most old classic restaurants
accepts cash only.
Very close to Rudford's,
and the Red Fox Room. |
| The Santa Fe Railroad Depot, 1050
Kettner Blvd, 619 234-5191 (Mission Revival
Style 1915)
 |
For a time, San Diego seemed hell bent
on erasing all history in the part of
Broadway, West of Horton Plaza, but somehow
this classic train depot survived. While I
probably prefer Union Station for its Art
Deco interior, this place is also a true
time machine and well preserved. Mentioned
in Raymond Chandler's Novel "Playback",
along with the La Valencia Hotel. My wife
used to work in a hot dog stand that was
located here.
Not far
from Filippi's Italian Restaurant, Mister
Tiki, the Tivoli bar and the
Hob Nob Hill restaurant.
 |
| Sun Cafe, 421 Market
St. San Diego, CA (619) 239-9950
 |
Although I don't have an exact date, I
believe this may be the oldest restaurant in
San Diego. When I first moved to San
Diego in 1978, there were many of these
ultra-cheap Chinese-American cafes. I
haven't eaten in this one for at least
twenty years, so I can't tell you what it is
like today. Twenty years ago there was not
much ambiance to speak of, other than a lot
of people nursing some broken dreams. It may
be completely different today given the
changes in the Gas Lamp Quarter. Definitely
a quiet and unnoticed piece of San Diego
history. Near
Mister Tiki, the Tivoli bar, Filippi's
Italian Restaurant and Hob Nob Hill. |
| Tivoli Bar, 506 6th
Ave, San Diego (619) 232-6754 T T T
(from 1885)
 |
When I first moved to San Diego in 1978,
only the brave at heart (and extremely naive
people like myself) walked around the "Gas
Lamp Quarter" (if it was called that back
then). Mostly the homeless and drunken
sailor's and other down and out types hung
out there. Later in the
early 80's, I
would walk by the Tivoli bar and sneak a
look at the great 1890's wooden bar inside.
Even I was not stupid enough to go in - it
was a very rough place back then. Now
with the complete transformation (I was
going to say gentrification but I've gotten
complaint emails informing me that is a
racist term - who knew?) of the Gas
Lamp Quarter - this seems to be a completely
tame college type bar - and a pleasant one at
that. They have wisely kept the old wooden
bar (although it has been restored). It
was a very friendly place on my last visit - both
staff and patrons. This may be the
oldest continuously operated bar in all of
Southern California by my calculations
(well I will be a neutral party and
let them battle it out with the Waterfront
Bar as to which is the oldest bar in San
Diego). Gone are the bad old
days - although you can still pretend you're
a young ruffian! All and all a nice
place. Near Mister Tiki, the Sun
Cafe, the Santa Fe Station, Filippi's
Italian Restaurant and Hob Nob Hill.
|
| The Turf Supper Club,
1116 25th Street, San Diego, CA 92102
619-234-6363
T T T T T
 |
I have a strange history with this
place. When I first moved to San
Diego, I rented a room about three blocks
from here. After a few months,
my best friend from High School, Bill G.
came out to visit me and on his suggestion,
we went to this place and sat down at the
piano bar. For about three hours we had the
greatest time requesting songs and freaking
out the patrons and piano player by
requesting all these old songs from the
thirties and forties, like "Brother can you
spare a dime" (I guess even then I had time
machine tendencies). Despite having a great
time and living in Golden Hills/South Park
for over 10 years, I never went back until
2006 (some 28 years later). For some
reason it always looked closed to me (there
are no windows). On my recent return I found
the place to be frozen in time. It's in
completely pristine condition from either
the 40's or 50's I guess. It has a
grill where you cook your own meat.
The bar area is beautiful. It was
pretty packed when I was there and for good
reason. They had a steak special sign
hanging on the wall with such a low price, I
asked the bar tender if it was just an old
decoration. He assured me the price
was still good. This place, along with
the Red Fox Room, and the Whaling Bar in the
La Valencia hotel comprise as good a
collection of historic time machine bars as
you could want. If this place was
located in Hollywood, there would be lines
around the block. The only drawback here is
that there is not much parking. You'll
probably have to park on the street and be
streetwise. Near the Tivoli Bar, the Red Fox
Room, Rudford's, the U.S. Grant Hotel, and
the San Diego Chicken Pie Shop. |
| The Wagon Wheel Restaurant, Washington St.
Escondido, CA T T T T
|
This restaurant is a few blocks north of the
Fireside (now gone) on Washington. Another great old
coffee shop from the fifties, with regulars
who appear to have been eating there
continuously since that time. Lots of wood
paneling and western themes. Good old
fashion cooking. Great pies. With the
demise of the Fireside, this is about your
only time machine with any history between San Diego and
Rainbow/Temecula, California that I know of.
 |
| Waterfront Bar & Grill,
2044 Kettner Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101858
518-8840 T T
 |
People refer to this place from time to
time as the "oldest bar" in San Diego or at
least the "oldest liquor license" (They
claim to have a liquor license, either now
or in the past - I'm not sure, numbered
"1"). I'll let them battle this claim
out with the Tivoli Bar (I'm strictly a
neutral party!) as to who is the oldest bar
in San Diego, but the place is definitely
old! There has been a lot of
remodeling here, but the bar counter has
that great well worn look and next to the
door there are still glass bricks. You also
have to love the font of their old sign. A
very popular hang, which was packed the day
I went. They have a rep for
outstanding burgers as well. Pleasant bar
tenders. All and all a nice place! |
| Question for any San Diego Old timers?
Collection of Daniel Sullivan |
Does anyone remember an old Sandwich
shop downtown that closed in the early '80s.
It was run by one man always by himself, who
could remember the orders from the entire
counter (the place was a single long
counter). It had fantastic prices and
was a very unique place. I'm thinking
it was named "Manny's" but not quite
sure. [Michael M. remembers it as "Manny's"
as well and adds the following comment: "I
recall it being on E Street, a block south
of Broadway, not far from the main Library
and then Main Post Office. Manny
served authentic Deli sandwiches all day
long. I recall eating corned beef, pastrami,
and even hot tongue sandwiches on memorable
rye bread, for breakfast!"] See
Alexander M's letter on the readers memories
page as well - confirming it was "Manny's".
This was the quintessential American lunch
counter - I wish there were enough material
to write a whole book on it. Anyone have a
picture of the place?
Another time machine long gone was McDini's on Market Street. Also gone
is the mile long counter at Woolworth's.
Any pictures of these places? American restaurant culture seems to be
becoming generic Corporate chain
restaurants. Also does anyone remember a
place with great fried chicken on about 54th
and El Cajon. Did the name have
College or Campus in it. It was an old
place that lasted for many years. Andy H.
writes to say that in was the College
Restaurant. Anyone have memories of the
old movie palaces where Horton Plaza mall
now stands. What were the interiors like?
Any pictures? There was also a very little
restaurant downtown run by a woman who was
born in the U.S. and her father foolishly
took her to live in Russia during the days
of Stalin. She had quite an interesting and
sad story of their suffering. Anyone know
the place I'm talking about? Any other
memories of old San Diego restaurants or
bars - there's not much material out there
on this topic. |
| Other Suggested sites
The San Diego
County Administration Building. |
The San Diego County Administration
Building on Pacific Coast Hwy is an art deco
masterpiece - a great place to film a 1940s
detective film. Check out the wooden bar
in Fat City (the exterior of which was an
old Moderne restaurant -"Tops"). The Spreckles
Building lobby is nice. The Grant
Hotel is very historic (see picture at top
of page). The movie palace
incorporated into Horton Plaza (the Balboa) is being reopened. Hope they
save the interior!!! It had two
waterfalls on both side of the Proscenium
(look that up in your Websters!) arch. |
|
|
|
