RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES
www.streetcarmike.com

Page created January 11, 2009. Last updated July 20, 2020.
©2009-2020 Michael Strauch. All rights reserved.

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This page depicts current and past restaurants and eating establishments. I include both Louisiana and California locations on one page to give the reader a wide range of memories and experiences.


ACME OYSTER HOUSE:

Acme Oyster House is a casual seafood restaurant on Iberville St. in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Here are some shots taken October 3, 2016 that were added to this page 01/15/19.


ANDRIA'S SEAFOOD:

Andria's Seafood at Ventura Harbor offers a wide variety of fried seafoods with large portions. Here it is on October 30, 2018. Two photos added 01/15/19.


ARMADILLO WILLY'S:


Armadillo Willy's is a Texas influenced barbecue restaurant chain in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here we see a catering van near the Sunnyvale location (El Camino Real and Cezanne Dr.) on February 10, 2016. Four photos added 01/11/19.


ARNAUD'S:


Arnaud's is an old (founded 1918) French Quarter restaurant serving a variety of Creole dishes. My family has celebrated my dad's 75th and 80th birthdays in a private dining room here. I recommend the wonderful turtle soup. Arnaud's, at Bienville and Bourbon Sts., is seen on October 2, 2016. Six photos added 01/15/19.


BASKIN ROBBINS:

Baskin Robbins store at Main and Telegraph in Ventura on June 15, 2018. One photo added 01/15/19.


BIG BUBBA'S BAD BBQ:

Big Bubba's Bad BBQ is based out of Paso Robles with four restaurants in central California. This trailer was being towed along US 101 near Boronda Rd. in Salinas on June 18, 2005. One photo moved 04/19/19.


BILL LONG'S:

Bill Long's, founded by William A. Long Sr., specialized in kosher bakery goods and a "not-quite-kosher" delicatessen. The potato salad was the best I ever ate in my life. Bill Long Jr. continued its operation with his son Bill III after the senior man passed in 1977. Bill Jr. was killed in 1985; the store finally closed in 1987. The first photo depicts Joyce and Bill Long Jr. in a press photo dated August 12, 1984. The second photo shows two women walking past the shuttered Bill Long's on March 8, 1987; that month the place closed. Two photos from my collection added 04/10/19.


BUDDY'S BITES AND BREWS:


Buddy's Bites and Brews on Hesperian Blvd. in Hayward on August 8, 2018. Twelve photos added 01/15/19.


BUSY BEE CAFE:

Busy Bee Cafe is located on Main St. in downtown Ventura. Here's a couple of night shots taken October 29, 2016. Two photos added 01/15/19.


CAFE DU MONDE:

World famous for their beignets (powdered sugar sprinkled puffed donuts) and cafe au lait (coffee and milk), Cafe du Monde's main location is across from Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Here are a couple of shots of the patio area and the to go order window/shop on October 3, 2016. It's a great place for family (such as my sisters and niece, whoever's up early, lol) to meet up to make plans for the day or evening. Three photos added 01/15/19.


This is the Esplanade Mall (Kenner) location of Cafe du Monde on July 12, 2018. Visiting a suburban location is a more peaceful experience than going to the French Quarter if you want beignets. Three photos added 01/15/19.


CHEZTAKOS!!!:

Cheztakos!!! is a Mountain View based Mexican food truck that made two visits to my Costco store. (Reward of a free meal for going a certain number of days with no employee injuries.) These photos were taken April 13, 2016 and include the certificate each of us received to redeem for the food as well as my plate of carne asada tacos. Seven photos added 01/11/19.


THE CITY FISH:

The City Fish is located on Stevens Creek Blvd. in Cupertino. The restaurant features broiled and fried seafoods. Two photos added 07/30/19 and one added 03/09/20.


Another location of The City Fish opened at Santa Clara and Second Sts. in downtown San Jose. Night shot taken September 9, 2019 added 03/09/20.


CLARKE'S CHARCOAL BROILER:

Clarke's Charcoal Broiler is a local Mountain View hamburger restaurant that closed on March 31, 2020. Here are two photos taken March 12, 2017 and added to this page 01/11/19.


DAMON'S STEAK HOUSE:

Damon's Steak House is a Polynesian themed restaurant on N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale, seen here on June 14, 2018. I ate a butterfly sirloin steak and a twice baked potato. Two photos added 01/15/19.


Damon's Steak House on June 12, 2019. Three photos added 03/09/20.


DEANIE'S SEAFOOD:


Deanie's Seafood is a local New Orleans chain of restaurants. Their anchor location is in Bucktown, Lake Ave. in Metairie, as seen here on July 11, 2018. They are famous for the giant fried seafood platter (fresh shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft shell crabs, crawfish balls, French fries) which my brother and I shared on that date. Eight photos added 01/15/19.


DOT'S DINER:

Dot's Diner is a local Jefferson and St. Charles Parishes area chain of restaurants that serve good breakfast. Here is the one on Airline Dr. in Metairie on July 11, 2018. Three photos added 01/15/19.


EL POLLO SUPREMO:

El Pollo Supremo serves excellent grilled chicken at its Mission and Niagara Sts. location in San Francisco. Three photos taken February 26, 2018 added 01/16/19.



El Pollo Supremo on April 8, 2019. Four photos added 03/09/20.


El Pollo Supremo on July 14, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


FISH AND CHIPS-SAUSALITO:

Fish and Chips-Sausalito is a Bridgeway seafood and burger eatery seen here on October 8, 2018. I enjoyed the fish and chips. Two photos added 01/15/19.


HARBOR SEAFOOD AND OYSTER BAR:

Harbor Seafood on Williams Blvd. in Kenner offers lunch and dinner based on Louisiana seafoods. Next door is Fisherman's Cove seafood market to buy products and have them packed for shipment. I took these pictures July 11 and 17, 2019. Three photos added 01/15/19.


HARRY'S HOFBRAU:


Harry's Hofbrau is a small chain of cafeteria style "carvery" restaurants with a German theme. Each one also has a full service bar. These are pictures of the former San Jose location on Saratoga Ave. near Stevens Creek Blvd. taken on the night of February 27, 2016. Harry's claims its fame is in the turkeys it serves. The open faced turkey sandwich is one of its specialties. You can also have a turkey leg or sliced turkey dinner. To this end, fake rotating turkeys were featured in the front windows. Twelve photos added 01/11/19.



Harry's Hofbrau in San Jose on January 9, 2019. The restaurant closed down the night before. Seventeen photos added 01/11/19.


HAYDEL'S BAKERY:

While not a restaurant, Haydel's Bakery is important to the New Orleans dining scene. They create specialty birthday cakes, hand pies, and Mardi Gras king cakes at their Jefferson Hwy. location. I posed Jefferson Transit Gillig 415 passing Haydel's on October 2, 2016. Three photos added 01/15/19.


IKEA:

At Ikea in East Palo Alto, I just made the closing of the breakfast menu on October 23, 2019. Four photos added 03/16/20.


KOLB'S:

Kolb's was a German restaurant in New Orleans that operated from 1899 to 1994. The facade and signage in the first block of St. Charles Ave. were still intact as of October 2, 2016. Three photos added 01/15/19.


This press photo by Philip Ames (with Kolb's in the background) depicts the return of streetcars and buses to service after an operator strike. Date stamp on reverse is March 9, 1975. One scan of a print from my collection added 04/02/2019.


LUCKY DOGS:

Lucky Dogs is a New Orleans tradition of getting your hot dogs from a weenie shaped cart on the street. Here is such a wagon at St. Peter and Bourbon Sts. in October 1992. Scan of a slide (photographer unknown) added 03/16/20.


Two Lucky Dogs wagons across from Jackson Square (Decatur and St. Peter Sts.) and at Toulouse and Bourbon Sts. on October 1, 2011. Three photos added 03/08/20.


Besides street vendors, Lucky Dogs has walk-up counters such as this stand in the old Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport terminal, photographed July 10, 2018. Two photos added 01/15/19.


MEL'S DRIVE-IN:

Mel's Drive-In at Mission and Fourth Sts. in San Francisco on the evening of September 18, 2019. This location has the feel of a 1950s-1960s diner, but with an extensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu. Three photos added 07/20/20.


Mel's Drive-In on Geary Blvd. in San Francisco on February 14, 2020. In restaurant dining was still available as the pandemic began. One photo added 07/13/20.


Mel's Drive-In on Lombard St. in San Francisco on July 9, 2020. During the pandemic, outdoor socially distanced dining was available on site, or one could order via internet to go (as I did). That's my new 2014.5 Toyota Camry at the left. One photo added 07/13/20.


MO'S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ:

Mo's Smokehouse BBQ at Monterey and Osos Sts. in downtown San Luis Obispo on June 19, 2018. The restaurant recently reopened after a remodel. Two photos added 01/15/19.



Mo's Smokehouse BBQ on June 14, 2019. Six photos added 03/09/20.



Mo's Smokehouse BBQ on Pomeroy Ave. in Pismo Beach on September 23, 2019. The food is just as wonderful here as in SLO. Four photos added 03/16/20.


Mo's Smokehouse BBQ in San Luis Obispo on the evening of September 23, 2019. One photo added 03/16/20.


NEW WOEY LOY GOEY:

New Woey Loy Goey is a Chinese restaurant located in a basement at Jackson St. and Grant Ave. in San Francisco. Here's a kung pao chicken lunch on September 18, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


THE ORIGINAL HICK'RY PIT:


The Original Hick'ry Pit is an old style American restaurant with two locations in Walnut Creek and Campbell. Here is the one at Campbell and Bascom Aves. in photos taken February 6, 2016. Nine photos added 01/11/19.


ORPHAN ANDY'S:

Orphan Andy's is a Castro District fixture open 24 hours. Here it is on the evening of December 26, 2018. I like their club sandwiches. Three pictures added 01/11/19.


Club sandwich with potato salad at Orphan Andy's on June 26, 2019. One photo added 03/09/20.



Orphan Andy's on the evening of November 4, 2019. Four photos added 03/16/20.


O-SABI JAPANESE RESTAURANT:


O-Sabi Japanese Restaurant on Walker St. in Ventura, CA features teppanyaki cuisine. It's entertaining to watch the chefs perform their magic. And the food is great. Seven photos added 03/09/20.


PAPA JAY'S SOUTHERN QUEZINE:

Papa Jay's Southern Quezine is a New Orleans themed restaurant located on W. Main St. in Guadalupe, CA. Most of the business is takeout; there's very limited seating for dining in. Very friendly family that takes care of you with great service. I stopped by to try some of the delicious food on June 13, 2018. Guadalupe is a few miles west of Santa Maria, definitely out of the way from the 101 Freeway. Two photos added 01/15/19.


THE PEARL:

Located next door to Kolb's, The Pearl was a New Orleans seafood restaurant that specialized in oysters. Opened in the 1920s, the then current owner decided to close down on September 26, 2015. The facade and signage in the first block of St. Charles Ave. were still intact as of October 2, 2016. Four photos added 01/15/19.


PEKING RESTAURANT:

Peking Chinese Restaurant was located on 41st Ave. in Soquel, but is now closed. They featured phone orders for carry out. I enjoyed Mongolian beef on October 23, 2019. Two photos added 03/16/20.


PINCHES TACOS:

Here are photos of the downtown Santa Monica location of the Mexican restaurant chain Pinches Tacos taken March 21, 2017 and added to the page 01/11/19. A pinche is a scullion or kitchen worker/cook.


PISMO FISH AND CHIPS:


Pismo Fish and Chips at Cypress St. and Stimson Ave. in Pismo Beach is closed Mondays but open the rest of the week. Cole slaw, onion rings, and fish & chips on September 24, 2019. Six photos added 03/16/20.


POOR HOUSE BISTRO:

Poor House Bistro at Autumn and San Fernando Sts. in San Jose features authentic (for California) New Orleans style cooking. This is the New Orleans Combo, with gumbo, jambalaya, red beans, and a cornbread muffin. Side of Cajun potato salad. July 16, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


Crawfish salad at Poor House Bistro on July 31, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


Poor House Bistro fried seafood platter (oysters, shrimp, and catfish) with two sides on October 6, 2019. One photo added 03/16/20.


Poor House Bistro red beans and rice on October 23, 2019. One photo added 03/16/20.


Poor House Bistro on January 5, 2020. One photo added 03/09/20.


QUEEN'S LOUISIANA PO-BOY CAFE:


Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Cafe at Pier 33 (Embarcadero and Bay St.) in San Francisco offers New Orleans style foods. Twelve photos added 03/09/20.


Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Cafe on July 3, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


Oyster poboy at Queen's on July 24, 2019. Three photos added 03/09/20.



Queen's Louisiana Po-Boy Cafe on January 29, 2020. The restaurant later closed down during the pandemic. Five photos added 03/09/20.


ROCKY & CARLO'S:

Rocky & Carlo's Restaurant and Bar is located on St. Bernard Hwy. in Chalmette. Ladies Invited. They make great poboys and are renowned for their macaroni and cheese. The facade photos and the oyster poboy were taken February 28, 2014, and the ham poboy and potato salad were taken July 14, 2018. Four photos added 01/16/19.


ROSINE'S:

Rosine's Restaurant in downtown Monterey has a variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and pastry offerings. Here's a club sandwich with potato salad and the building on August 26, 2019. Two photos added 03/09/20.


SAMBO'S:


Sambo's in Santa Barbara is the remaining location left in a chain that once covered the United States and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the oceanside. Here are some pictures taken June 19, 2018 and added to the page 01/15/19.


SNOW GARDEN:


Snow Garden Chinese restaurant located on Grant Ave. near Sacramento St. in San Francisco serves great meals. Here's my usual test dinner, Mongolian beef, on October 13, 2019. One photo added 03/16/20.


Snow Garden restaurant on November 9, 2019. One photo added 03/16/20.


STEAK 'N SHAKE:

Steak 'n Shake is a chain of hamburger restaurants. I first tried them out at the Santa Monica location (Third St. Promenade) with a delicious steakburger. Photos taken March 21, 2017 and added 01/11/19.


Steak 'n Shake used to have a location at Market St. and 3rd Ave. in Daly City. Here is that location on November 14, 2017. It closed in early 2018. Three photos added 01/11/19.


SUNNY BUFFET:

Sunny Buffet was an all-you-can-eat Asian-American restaurant at 502 Ross Drive in Sunnyvale (Mathilda Ave. between US 101 and CA 237 freeways). Some of the foods served are crab legs, frog legs, crawfish, coconut shrimp, fried shrimp, clams, oysters, fried rice, soups, sushi, ribs, and chicken. Here's a photo of Sunny Buffet from March 21, 2009. The restaurant closed in early 2012. Moved from another page 01/11/19.


TAQUERIA CANCUN:


Taqueria Cancun at Mission and 19th Sts. in San Francisco on September 18, 2019. I enjoyed carne asada super nachos. Four photos added 03/09/20.


TAQUERIA LA BAMBA:

Taqueria La Bamba, located at Old Middlefield Way and Rengstorff Ave. in Mountain View, made excellent burritos. Three photos taken May 20, 2011 moved from another page 01/11/19.


A second Mountain View location of La Bamba was opened on Castro St. as seen in this nighttime picture on February 7, 2009. It's no longer in business there. Moved from another page 01/11/19.


The newest location of Taqueria La Bamba was at Rengstorff Ave. and Middlefield Rd. in Mountain View. Nighttime picture taken August 6, 2011. This is the only remaining location open in 2019. Moved from another page 01/11/19.


The Old Middlefield Way restaurant closed December 4, 2013 as part of removal of the buildings to make way for apartments. Photo taken December 12, 2013 and Moved from another page 01/11/19. See link to article.


TAQUERIA TLAQUEPAQUE #2:

Taqueria Tlaquepaque #2 at Willow St. and Delmas Ave. on December 11, 2019. Two photos added 03/16/20.


TWIN PEAKS BAR:

Right next door to Orphan Andy's is the Twin Peaks Bar, seen here on the evening of December 26, 2018. Two photos added 01/11/19.


WOK'S ON EXPRESS:

After being closed for a year from a fire, Wok's On Express (Tien Fu II) at El Camino Real and Sunnyvale-Saratoga Ave. reopened in late February 2020. They serve great fast Chinese food. Photo taken February 28, 2020 and added 03/09/20.


YUM YUM DONUTS:

Yum Yum Donuts is a 24 hour restaurant located at Meridian Ave. and Willow St. in San Jose. This photo was taken November 20, 2017 and added to the page 01/11/19.


ZIGGY'S BURGERS:

Ziggy's Burgers on Drumm St. in San Francisco on July 18, 2018. One photo added 01/15/19.