California recommendations?

boyd J. wrote:
>
> It's been many years since I've been that route, so I won't even attempt
> to recommend restaurants, but you can be sure to find many good seafood
> restaurants all along the way and good Mexican restaurants at least from
> LA south.
>
Well, I will.  Even though TF doesn't like "offbeat" restaurants, I can't imagine *anyone* not liking Nepenthe.  Besides, it is, in and of itself, one of the real attractions of Big Sur.  Dinner would be best, preferrably being seated shortly before sunset (Nepenthe is built "into" a hill/rocky bluff overhanging the coast).  There's some sort of little outdoor patio cafe there you might try if your there for lunch, but I've never tried it.  Oh yeah, the food is very good; try the roast chicken.

Larry Owen

p.s. Nepenthe's not terribly expensive.  Since TF doesn't drink, you
  can probably have a good meal for about $15/person, plus tip.

Steve P. wrote:

>> TF frequently displays a conservative
>> predilection for the first chainlike stereotypable place with
>> potted plants they see. ;)  So, if anyone could clue me in to
>> restaurants that I could recommend as if by sudden inspiration
>> to TF as we drive past a given area, I would really, really
>> appreciate it! :)
>>
>> TF cannot be convinced to go to any very offbeat or difficult
>> to find restaurants.

>> I guess personally, my favorite restaurants are the kind where
>> the food made me leave happy, for whatever reasons.  It's hard
>> to explain, but I'm sure someone knows what I'm talking about.

>Well, when cruising thru Berkeley you can always eat at
>Spengers, convieniently off I-80 (University Ave. exit),
>and iff you order carefully you will get a very nice
>meal.  I generally have a lobster cocktail (Pacific Lobster,
>but cheap), and a Scallop Sandwich, which is excellent...
>unlike the yupscale 4th st. Grill across the street,
>Spengers actually knows how to deep-fry seafood.
>Other okay items are the fish and chips, and the crab sandwich.

>Another thang to keep in mind is Harris Ranch Restaurant,
>right on I-5 near Coalinga in the central valley.  There
>you don't have to order carefully, you pretty much can't
>miss.

>Have fun and I hope TF survies the ordeal.

>Steve

YES!!!  Eat at the Harris Ranch Restaurant.  It's one of those "fly-in" places if you have a pilot's license.  Either way, it's a great place to eat, and the perfect point on the road to get off for a little while.  I haven't been there in about 10 years, but I'm sure it's as good as it was back then.  The food is great, and they even have potted plants for TF to look at!  (they are potted coffee plants).  And if you're there on a nice day, you can get a window seat and watch the planes take off and land (will keep kids busy for a while).  It's definitely one of the few nice things along I-5 between Stockton and L.A.  Besides it, the road is pretty boring (which is why I've been taking US101 for the past 10 years anytime I'm going to LA). :-Dan

boyd J. wrote:

>Steve P. wrote:
>>
>>Another thang to keep in mind is Harris Ranch Restaurant,
>>right on I-5 near Coalinga in the central valley.

>It doesn't sound like TF is going through the central valley, and I
>would strongly encourage them to follow the original plan, going the
>slow, scenic coast route rather than the fast, boring, hot inland
>route.  Go over the Bay Bridge to The City, go on to Santa Cruz via Big
>Basin or the coast, going around the bay to Monterrey, Carmel (17 mile
>drive, etc) Big Sur (the name that escaped you) State Park & Pfiffer
>SP, down PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) maybe stopping at Hearst Castle
>and Solvang and on to LA and San Diego.  After you get to Ventura
>you'll probably be disappointed with the scenery after the magnificent
>route you just took.

>It's been many years since I've been that route, so I won't even attempt
>to recommend restaurants, but you can be sure to find many good seafood
>restaurants all along the way and good Mexican restaurants at least from
>LA south.

>--
>====== Boyd Johnson     San Diego, California ======
>     Intermittent newsfeed at best and only to selected groups.
>     My opinions certainly don't match those of my employer.

Okay, here goes:  in SF, a good place to go that will please the family is The Stinking Rose- it's a garlicy, Italian place that I've been to a couple times and enjoyed, but it is a little pricy (still under $15/person).  If you go along the coast to Santa Cruz/Monterey/Carmel, try The Shore Bird in Half Moon Bay for the best seafood anywhere between SF and LA, at least as far as I'm concerned (and I'm a big seafood fan).  If you stop in Solvang, there are some good places to get Aebleskiver, another kid-pleaser, but I can't remember any specific names of restaurants.  Still, it's the only place that I know of in CA where you'll find some Danish food, or so they say.  It's on 101, south of San Luis Obispo, which has a good donut place across from one of the gas stations, not too far from downtown.  Another spot to try, if you take that route, is the Madonna Inn.  I have an aunt and uncle in the LA area that drive up there at least once every other month for a Sunday brunch.  It's also near SLO.  A good Chinese place in the LA area, near an awesome view of the ocean, is a place in Palos Verdes, called the Golden Lotus (or was it Dragon).  It's a little fancy, but nothing TF couldn't handle.  That's basically the extent of my knowledge of the LA area.
      Now, if TF ever happens to be in the South Bay Area, email me and I'll
give you some excellent reccomendations in San Jose, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and the like.  I can even give you directions on how to get to the various spots in the area.  Actually, that goes for anyone requesting good food in the Silicon Valley area. :-Dan