Favorite Restaurant

Which restaurant is your favorite?
I have to say mine is Good Day Cafe.

Favorite is My Cafe next to the Howard Johnson motel off Tennessee near I-80.

Anon wrote:

Favorite is My Cafe next to the Howard Johnson motel off Tennessee near I-80.

I love their Eggs Benedict at my cafe

I had fish and chips at the Sardine Can recently. It was very good. The Front Room has a wonderful fish and chips also. Good prices also

how very sad, the best food in this town is deep fat fried fish

What I would love to see in Vallejo is an Irish Pub.

The Szechuan Chinese Cuisine over at Solano and Lincoln Rd West is great. Best burgers in town is Bud's hands down.

Really do not have a favorite restaurant in Vallejo. I do however have favorite food items in many Vallejo eating places.

My choice for French Dip with the works and a good Denver Omelet is the Buttercup....
The French Roll is grilled with plenty of "thinly" sliced roast beef, add mushrooms, onions and a light horseradish sauce (no cheese for me) to it and you are set for a treat. For the Denver, state you want your veggies cooked well, otherwise they will come "rare".

...open faced Prime Rib Sandwich from the Front Room,(ask for either top or bottom of roll to save some calories, nice thick slice of meat will make up for the loss...!)

...Chili Dog and a Diet Coke (ha-ha) from Sac's, and so on...
Used to love Good Day Cafe at the old location, but am not that crazy about the downtown location anymore...

..and when i am on the run, OMG!, a cup of Joe from Starbucks with one of their excellent Blueberry scones.

Just like with grocery shopping and having choices I spread my limited budget around town. For a real excellent meal and special company I leave town. Sorry!

We are close enough to Benicia to be able to grocery shop and dine out over there. Pappa's just off the freeway has been packed since the TV show makeover. Maybe we'll try after the novelty wears off. We were able to see the helicopters and fire engines over on Castlewood from our back yard. This town will never be the same and we can't afford to leave.

I am with you EVC. We marked the calendar for the show about Papa's. Went by the place yesterday to look-see and it was packed! Went to the Benicia Grill instead, I really like them for breakfast ... cooked to order, friendly staff and Mr. Azizi really is the best!

I always liked Papa's and their breakfasts. The home fries were great with the lemony touch of the Greek spices and green onions, etc. it was tops! Not crazy about the sometimes "garlicky pancakes" that made their way onto a plate, but the kitchen had close quarters....! Hope they still have the Papa Burger on the menu... not an item for the calorie counter, but not making a regular habit of it, I do indulge!
But like with everything else we are able to pick and chose what we consume.

On a different note.
Came home from Target yesterday and encountered police on Springs Road and the helicopter overhead. From a distance and as I turned onto Springs it seemed as if Sac's had an emergency. At that time a small crowd had gathered across the street by the school athletic field. Kept my eyes peeled on the road and let my husband do the gawking.... Moving along.....

I always enjoyed your civil responses on here. I know it is difficult to see our town and way of life degraded by the criminal element. Keep up your spirits, as with all things this also shall pass...

@ Hmmmm, if I could send a great cup of coffee over the airwaves I most certainly would. Remember, cold fresh water,(recently bought a Britta filter and keep the jug in the fridge) add freshly ground coffee of your choosing into an old fashioned cone filter, then add boiling water into container placed over a single cup, hmmm!
For that special touch, add a dollop of freshly beaten heavy cream and a dash of cinnamon/cacao. Got to go folks, have a great afternoon!

I went to Papa's the week. Very disappointed! They did a few cosmetic changes, made a smaller menu and raised the prices. Don't rush over on a weekday. I heard that they would use their old menu on the week-ends.

Give me the dumpster behind Black Bear, you wouldn't believe what people throw away. MMMMM, MMMM, MMMM, love those half-eaten burgers and sloppy fries...........

gimme gimme gimme wrote:

how very sad, the best food in this town is deep fat fried fish

Not really!

The Good Day has tremendous omelets, pancakes and lunches, too. I like the Good Day omelet with avocado, bacon and jack cheese. The service is generally good and very friendly. The desserts there are dangerously excellent, homemade too.

There's a surprising amount of good food in Vallejo but you have to look for it.

House of Soul has some of the best traditional Southern food I've ever had including in the actual South. It is as good as that well known one in Berkeley I can't recall the name of. Just, homespun not polished. Authentic you might say. The woman that I think is the owner, is very funny. Their sauces are to die for, as is their fried chicken, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. Gracies is okay but HOS is the bomb.

I agree about Vik's. When it's open, that little gal they have cooking does a great job. There's a Cuban sandwich they're serving now which is delicious, and not too greasy. Just good meat and well prepared.

If you like sushi, Matsuri Vallejo is always good and fresh. I like their rolls too, and their creative ventures where they take traditional foods of other cuisines--like Italian carpaccio, raw seasoned beef--and do it their way.

there is or was a very good small sushi place on Tuolumne near the european car garage. Nice people but that hood is bad.

I also agree that the Sardine Can has a reliably excellent breakfast. And who would not enjoy our peaceful waterfront? The same spot in Oakland or Berkeley would be beset with people (many objectionable) and twice as expensive.

The new little bakery out on Springs, Hummingbird, is pretty good. Their Christmas log spice/sweet tater cake was incredibly tasty! Some of their cupcakes are a bit bland to me, but stuff like champagne pound cake, they do brilliantly. Their eclairs are so light and delicately yummy. They are also super nice people.

The Joy of Eating was sort of good when I first came here 15 years ago. Now it pretty much is dirty, too busy, and sucks overall. Too bad. The Buttercup has gone downhill--all of them. The original owner had a good thing. I am sorry she sold out. Breakfasts are probably their best option now. But the full bar is a nice touch, as it is one of the few places in Vallejo that a non-thug adult can have a drink.

I miss the two good dive bars we once had, the Valono and the Golden Bubble. They could have metamorphozed into mellow "classic clubs" for normal adults to hang out and have a few, but uncaring/uninterested ownership failed to see the opportunity.

But even as dives they were peaceful, friendly, with cheap drinks and easygoing regulars. The Bubble was once a classic diner restaurant too. I kept hoping they would go back to that but no dice. They managed to have good bands now and then without attracting the wrong element. That space is now a really unpleasant BBQ full of sour, unfriendly "elements".

I notice Dunphys aka Dumpys has died recently. Long may it stay dead.

Benicia has a handful of decent restaurants. Venticello's is a bit yupscale but I have to admit their food tastes very good. Sailor jack's is pretentious and crappy, a poor replacement for the reliable Captain Blythers. There are lots more I would like to try.

The little coffee place near Nation's on second st. in that little mall is amazing. GREAT coffee. I forget the name but the location is obvious.

Food I wish Vallejo had:

yes an Irish pub!!!
a steakhouse, not a chain one either
a fun retro diner with hearty comfort food
a GOOD tapas bar and I don't mean Havana Sol
a wine bar like the Chill in Benicia

I don't mind the excess of cheap eats here. I just wish more were non-chains and not Mexican. We have enough Mexican food to feed Mexico.

gimme gimme gimme wrote:

how very sad, the best food in this town is deep fat fried fish

Not really!

The Good Day has tremendous omelets, pancakes and lunches, too. I like the Good Day omelet with avocado, bacon and jack cheese. The service is generally good and very friendly. The desserts there are dangerously excellent, homemade too.

There's a surprising amount of good food in Vallejo but you have to look for it.

House of Soul has some of the best traditional Southern food I've ever had including in the actual South. It is as good as that well known one in Berkeley I can't recall the name of. Just, homespun not polished. Authentic you might say. The woman that I think is the owner, is very funny. Their sauces are to die for, as is their fried chicken, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. Gracies is okay but HOS is the bomb.

I agree about Vik's. When it's open, that little gal they have cooking does a great job. There's a Cuban sandwich they're serving now which is delicious, and not too greasy. Just good meat and well prepared.

If you like sushi, Matsuri Vallejo is always good and fresh. I like their rolls too, and their creative ventures where they take traditional foods of other cuisines--like Italian carpaccio, raw seasoned beef--and do it their way.

there is or was a very good small sushi place on Tuolumne near the european car garage. Nice people but that hood is bad.

I also agree that the Sardine Can has a reliably excellent breakfast. And who would not enjoy our peaceful waterfront? The same spot in Oakland or Berkeley would be beset with people (many objectionable) and twice as expensive.

The new little bakery out on Springs, Hummingbird, is pretty good. Their Christmas log spice/sweet tater cake was incredibly tasty! Some of their cupcakes are a bit bland to me, but stuff like champagne pound cake, they do brilliantly. Their eclairs are so light and delicately yummy. They are also super nice people.

The Joy of Eating was sort of good when I first came here 15 years ago. Now it pretty much is dirty, too busy, and sucks overall. Too bad. The Buttercup has gone downhill--all of them. The original owner had a good thing. I am sorry she sold out. Breakfasts are probably their best option now. But the full bar is a nice touch, as it is one of the few places in Vallejo that a non-thug adult can have a drink.

I miss the two good dive bars we once had, the Valono and the Golden Bubble. They could have metamorphozed into mellow "classic clubs" for normal adults to hang out and have a few, but uncaring/uninterested ownership failed to see the opportunity.

But even as dives they were peaceful, friendly, with cheap drinks and easygoing regulars. The Bubble was once a classic diner restaurant too. I kept hoping they would go back to that but no dice. They managed to have good bands now and then without attracting the wrong element. That space is now a really unpleasant BBQ full of sour, unfriendly "elements".

I notice Dunphys aka Dumpys has died recently. Long may it stay dead.

Benicia has a handful of decent restaurants. Venticello's is a bit yupscale but I have to admit their food tastes very good. Sailor jack's is pretentious and crappy, a poor replacement for the reliable Captain Blythers. There are lots more I would like to try.

Am sorry now I didn't go to Pappa's before the makeover. At least would be fun to compare!

The little coffee place near Nation's on second st. in that little mall is amazing. GREAT coffee. I forget the name but the location is obvious.

Food I wish Vallejo had:

yes an Irish pub!!!
a steakhouse, not a chain one either
a fun retro diner with hearty comfort food
a GOOD tapas bar and I don't mean Havana Sol
a wine bar like the Chill in Benicia

I don't mind the excess of cheap eats here. I just wish more were non-chains and not Mexican. We have enough Mexican food to feed Mexico.

gimme gimme gimme wrote:

how very sad, the best food in this town is deep fat fried fish

Not really!

The Good Day has tremendous omelets, pancakes and lunches, too. I like the Good Day omelet with avocado, bacon and jack cheese. The service is generally good and very friendly. The desserts there are dangerously excellent, homemade too.

There's a surprising amount of good food in Vallejo but you have to look for it.

House of Soul has some of the best traditional Southern food I've ever had including in the actual South. It is as good as that well known one in Berkeley I can't recall the name of. Just, homespun not polished. Authentic you might say. The woman that I think is the owner, is very funny. Their sauces are to die for, as is their fried chicken, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. Gracies is okay but HOS is the bomb.

I agree about Vik's. When it's open, that little gal they have cooking does a great job. There's a Cuban sandwich they're serving now which is delicious, and not too greasy. Just good meat and well prepared.

If you like sushi, Matsuri Vallejo is always good and fresh. I like their rolls too, and their creative ventures where they take traditional foods of other cuisines--like Italian carpaccio, raw seasoned beef--and do it their way.

there is or was a very good small sushi place on Tuolumne near the european car garage. Nice people but that hood is bad.

I also agree that the Sardine Can has a reliably excellent breakfast. And who would not enjoy our peaceful waterfront? The same spot in Oakland or Berkeley would be beset with people (many objectionable) and twice as expensive.

The new little bakery out on Springs, Hummingbird, is pretty good. Their Christmas log spice/sweet tater cake was incredibly tasty! Some of their cupcakes are a bit bland to me, but stuff like champagne pound cake, they do brilliantly. Their eclairs are so light and delicately yummy. They are also super nice people.

The Joy of Eating was sort of good when I first came here 15 years ago. Now it pretty much is dirty, too busy, and sucks overall. Too bad. The Buttercup has gone downhill--all of them. The original owner had a good thing. I am sorry she sold out. Breakfasts are probably their best option now. But the full bar is a nice touch, as it is one of the few places in Vallejo that a non-thug adult can have a drink.

I miss the two good dive bars we once had, the Valono and the Golden Bubble. They could have metamorphozed into mellow "classic clubs" for normal adults to hang out and have a few, but uncaring/uninterested ownership failed to see the opportunity.

But even as dives they were peaceful, friendly, with cheap drinks and easygoing regulars. The Bubble was once a classic diner restaurant too. I kept hoping they would go back to that but no dice. They managed to have good bands now and then without attracting the wrong element.

I notice Dunphys aka Dumpys has died recently. Long may it stay dead.

Benicia has a handful of decent restaurants. Venticello's is a bit yupscale but I have to admit their food tastes very good. Sailor jack's is pretentious and crappy, a poor replacement for the reliable Captain Blythers. There are lots more I would like to try.

The little coffee place near Nation's on second st. in that little mall is amazing. GREAT coffee. I forget the name but the location is obvious.

I'm sorry now I didn't try Pappa's earlier! Would have been interesting to compare old and new.

Food I wish Vallejo had:

yes an Irish pub!!!
a steakhouse, not a chain one either
a fun retro diner with hearty comfort food
a GOOD tapas bar and I don't mean Havana Sol
a wine bar like the Chill in Benicia

I don't mind the excess of cheap eats here. I just wish more were non-chains and not Mexican. We have enough Mexican food to feed Mexico.

Anon wrote:

I went to Papa's the week. Very disappointed! They did a few cosmetic changes, made a smaller menu and raised the prices. Don't rush over on a weekday. I heard that they would use their old menu on the week-ends.

Thanks for the info!
You mean to tell me they actually closed up the huge hole in the ceiling by the pillar? Every time I was seated anywhere close to it I thought some bat would swoop down and bite me in the neck!

Does anyone recall the restaurant that was at the present Pappa's site? I believe it was called Duck something and was fairly dark inside, but they had a very good signature sandwich, that I believe may have been pork loin on a sour dough roll. The place used to jump at lunch time with refinery workers. That was in the early 90's and the sandwich was really the only thing I still remember.

Back to pulling them darn weeds!

lol. sorry for double post!

So if you want to eat off a truck, or Popeyes chicken,Asian wanna be food,bacon and eggs then Vallejo is a culinary oasis but if you want to really have a nice or good meal you have to go somewhere else. other then the climate, Vallejo still has nothing to offer.

There is a small food concessionaire inside the VA Outpatient Clinic on Mare Island that has a daily home cooked style lunch. When the weather is good, they barbecue the special out in the parking lot. Cheap and good. Lot's of military memorabilia and unit patches in the lunch room. Open to the public.

Major Tom wrote:

There is a small food concessionaire inside the VA Outpatient Clinic on Mare Island that has a daily home cooked style lunch. When the weather is good, they barbecue the special out in the parking lot. Cheap and good. Lot's of military memorabilia and unit patches in the lunch room. Open to the public.

Thanks for the tip.
With all the Judge It! symbols not one that does say "Thank You" or "Please explain". Go figure!