Best Roadside Cafes

[calmloki]

First: best is subjective, could refer to the best burger ever, the hottest waitresses, killer location, whatever. I'll start.

John's Cafe, Yucca Valley California. Right side of the road as you are heading up the mountains into the high desert. This place serves up fine road food at real reasonable prices - don't think you can pick a loser from the menu. Fried zucchini is a winner - huge platter, monster mound of same. But John's gets it's Best nomination for it's air power hand driers. In all my years I have never seen air hand driers that blow as much air as hard as the ones at John's - Hell, I've rarely seen ones that dried your hands. When I've been there people coming out of the restrooms always comment on it to others at their table. Air deflected off my hands started a tornado in the wastebasket that blew paper towels all over the room, since then they are now putting the wastebaskets across the room. A-freaking-mazing.
Tom Walrod

[632 Regal]

now I am hungry!

[Gayle]

Ok--I'll bite (haha). I'll make 2 nominations. Both are on old highway 101 in northern San Diego county and are both about 2 blocks from the ocean.

Roberto's in Solana Beach has the best rolled tacos with guacomole in the world. Where else can you experience heaven for $2.99? Polish that off was a carne asada burito. Mexican just doesn't get any better.

Roberto's menu (http://www.robertos.us/menu.html)

101 Diner in downtown Encinitas (Long board capital of the world).

Interesting neighborhood. Lots of sidewalk restuarants and geriatric surfers with hawaiian shirts and woodies.

The Hood (http://www.encinitas101.com/diningdirectory.htm)


Sidewalk dinning. And we are able to eat outside probably 50 out of 52 weekends a year.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/5101DinerSmall.jpg

All the breakfasts are good, but the apple pancake is to die for.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/15thefamilytradition--applepancakeS.jpg

[Zeuk in Oz]

Sorry guys, but believe it or not, the best is at Woolloomooloo in Sydney :
Harry's Cafe de Wheels
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/harrys_cafe_de_wheels.htm

This place has the best hot dogs in the world - the speciality is the "Hot Dog de Wheels" which features mushy peas, fried onions, chilli con carne on a hot dog with chilli and cheese sauces. Out of this world !

They don't do a bad "Pie with mushy peas" or "Pie with mashed potato and gravy" either.

Its actually a caravan on the footpath where it has been for 60 odd years. You sit on a timber log overlooking Sydney harbour's worst view - the naval dock.

Worth a trip down under just to experience - you won't be disappointed.

[calmloki]

All the breakfasts are good, but the apple pancake is to die for.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/15thefamilytradition--applepancakeS.jpg[/QUOTE]

Damn - now that's a response! Whata pancake - and with a BMW key to keep it Bimmer oriented!

[632 Regal]

send me a couple and ill paypal you!

[Gayle]

Sorry guys, but believe it or not, the best is at Woolloomooloo in Sydney :
Harry's Cafe de Wheels
http://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/harrys_cafe_de_wheels.htm


They don't do a bad "Pie with mushy peas" or "Pie with mashed potato and gravy" either.



I haven't had mushy peas since the British pub in Del Mar closed. :( I really like mushy peas. My be my English ancestry.

[calmloki]

Ok - wondered and now have to ask - what are mushy peas? The assumption is overcooked green peas....I must be missing something... Sent your menus/reviews down to Sally in 29 Palms Gayle - she focused on the guacamole rolled tacos right off!

Any body from Boston want to do some recommendations? We will probably be there for a week in mid-April at the American Oriental rug conference - gotta eat, might as well eat well.
Tom

[Zeuk in Oz]

Ok - wondered and now have to ask - what are mushy peas? The assumption is overcooked green peas....I must be missing something...

Come to Sydney & find out, but as Gayle points out, hardly original to Oz as part of our British heritage !

Seriously though, as you would imagine, soft, mushy green peas - to die for on a hot dog when combined with fried onions (also mushy), chilli con carne and chilli and cheese sauce.

Obviously there exists a great opportunity to introduce your populace in the States to mushy peas ! :D

BTW, its almost 2 hours for me to drive there but worth the trip ! ;)

[rob101]

Come to Sydney & find out, but as Gayle points out, hardly original to Oz as part of our British heritage !

Seriously though, as you would imagine, soft, mushy green peas - to die for on a hot dog when combined with fried onions (also mushy), chilli con carne and chilli and cheese sauce.

Obviously there exists a great opportunity to introduce your populace in the States to mushy peas ! :D

BTW, its almost 2 hours for me to drive there but worth the trip ! ;)
salivation overload....... not sure about the mushy peas never been a big fan even in a pie......... speaking of pies i once visited the best bakery ever in northern NSW, but i can't remember the name all i remember is that it was award winning.... think it could have been in casino. Some good cafe's are starting to sprout up in country towns, its interesting to see how readily australia has embraced the cult of the bean.... esspresso, real coffee that is not that brewed crap. still alot of people up here think the coffee club is a good cafe :p they need to wake up and smell the young barristas making macchiatos. mmmmmmmm barristas........ sorry i meant mmmmmmmmm macchiatos:D