New Kwik Way Drive In, er, Restaurant Reopens to Mixed Reviews

How did the old Kwik Way finally reopen without me knowing about it. Thanks to a friend I FINALLY found out while at an Oakland A’s game. . Will have to get over there soon. As reported in a previous blog, the old KWIK WAY was saved… well, sort of. Thankfully, Owners of Somerset Restaurant in Oakland restored the old edifice but , apparently, added a new menu to the dismay of many (but I expected as much. ) After all, how does one improve on the old Kwik Way.

Get a glimpse of the ORIGINAL KWIK WAY here

Initial reviews have been lukewarm to say the least. If you’re like me, its hard to compete with the old Kwik Way , like a young ballplayer being called the ‘next Willie Mays.’ There’s only one Willie and there was only one Kwik Way, though , as we reported in a previous blog, there STILL IS an original Kwik Way if you’re willing to brave the mean streets of East Oakland and International Blvd (formerly E 14th)

Lucinda Lewis Vintage Style Roadside America “Mearle’s Drive In” Classic Eatery LED Illuminated Framed Poster — 24″ X 20″

New Kwik Way Drive In,

er, Restaurant Reopens to

Mixed Reviews

On a more positive note…

‘Kwik Way…the perfect icon of the revitalization of the eastside dining scene!

Warning nostalgia lovers…this is not your parents’ Kwik Way. You will not find cheap, extremely greasy fried foods or a drive-thru that contributes to the exhaust in the face of mother nature. But you will find good food, made well, at a moderate price by the professional restaurant team who created Somerset not too far away.

My wife grew up in the neighborhood so she has fond memories of the fried prawns accompanying a movie at the Grand Lake next door. The theatre has stood the tests of time, and now it seems the Kwik Way is making a triumphant return. ‘ – yelp review 4*

New Kwik Way Drive In, er, Restaurant Reopens to Mixed Reviews

Perhaps the new owners should do a little research and get the old Kwik Way recipes, grease and all. Nah, most modern folks would never go for it, though a few of us old nostalgists sure would… In the meantime we’re glad to have at least the old structure in place. …and there’s still the Grand Lake Theatre, where one can go after at least having a pseudo-nostalgic experience at the new Kwik Way… and don’t forget the great ALLEY on Grand where you can hear the original piano player of 50 years, Rod Dibble , tinkle the ivories in an original one-of-a-kind joint… or check out the art deco Paramount theater in all its 1930′s restored glory, where one can have a truly nostalgic evening every other Friday night, with old movies, theater organ and deco spin contest! Oakland is still quite the place if you go to the right places…

Full real first hand review to follow

New Kwik Way Drive In, er, Restaurant Reopens to Mixed Reviews

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FOREVER PLAID, OLD PORT LOBSTER SHACK, REDWOOD CITY, CA

FOREVER PLAID,

OLD PORT

LOBSTER

SHACK,

REDWOOD CITY,

CA

Ap 16 ’11 End of BURTday celebration WEEK(S) , thanks to LK… perhaps the funnest time of all, going first to a unique , local , popular spot, Old Port Lobster Shack and then the great 50s play Forever Plaid, both in Redwood city, CA

FOREVER PLAID, is a 1950′s themed musical about a vocal quartet that dies in a car crash at the end of the real rock and roll era, 1964 and on their way to their first-ever professional concert. Through suspended reality, the group resurfaces via Heaven to make that first concert appearancehere in 2011 at the little Redwood Fox Theater, as it were. The group cleverly tells its story through the use of the period songs. Highlight is a sppof/recreation of characters from the old Ed Sullivan Show they used to watch as kids every Sunday night at 8 pm (so did I), replete with plate spinners, Topo Jejo(sp), etc Singing is classic white vocal group harmony , culminating with ‘Love Is A Many Slendored thing.’ Unlike many oldies shows like this, Forever Plaid is great in its story line and clever skits – the Calypso scene is another good one. Perhpas less is more as the vocals stand out fine, in full sound with only a piano and bass accompaniment. The play has been around for years at various venues. Catch it if you can.

By the way, the Little fox Theater is a restored Deco Movie House from the 40s(?), a perfect venue for the show and directly across from the beautifully renovated City Square and Courthouseon Broadway in Redwood City.

OLD PORT LOBSTER SHACK is tucked away in a non-descript strip mall , yet it is very cute once inside, made to resemble a Maine lobster shack, with lobster pots, aluminum siding, etc. for a cafeteria -style dining, the place is expensive, yet, afterall, it’s lobster. It’s unique enough it’s worth a yearly visit or two. 851 Veterans Blv, Redwood City, only minutes from the Fox theater on Broadway.

FOREVER PLAID, OLD PORT

LOBSTER SHACK, REDWOOD CITY, CA

Redwood City appears to be a great little old-fashioned town with friendly people and not much sign of chains, worth the fairly long drive we took. It’s alwso said to have the best weather in the Bay Area.

FOREVER PLAID, OLD PORT

LOBSTER SHACK, REDWOOD CITY, CA

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BEST TIKI BARS – Original vs New

BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New

BEST TIKI BARS, Original

Dinner House San Francisco Bay

Area

LUCKY TO RESIDE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, where we have a little or a lot of everything it seems, including most enjoyable Restaurants, Cocktail Lounges and , more specifically, Tiki Bars or better, Tiki Palaces - both original Polynesian edifaces and newer configurations paying tribute tothe calmer, idyllic, post-war era of the late 40s-50s.

I thought I’d been to the best , particularly Forbidden Island in Alameda, CA but , I have to say, I think I’ve found a new Top Two, one original, Trader Sam’s one updated , Smuggler’s Cove, both in San Francisco.

I honored my recent birthday by visiting both on successive nights, April 6 and April 7, 2011, both equally great experiences. Hard to choose one over the other.

BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New Trader Sam’s , in all its 1937 original glory, at 6150 Geary, features a great, round, bamboo bar and bamboo chairs/ love seats. One may say the place is ‘worn’ looking, but for me this is the charm. I would not want to see it any other way. I know of no other tiki bar that comes close to being this original. Looking at the old pictures on the wall it would appear that NOTHING has changed in its almost 80 years!

Tiki Road Trip: A Guide to Tiki Culture in North America

Drinks : The guys at Smuggler’s Cove downplayed the drinks but, they’ve got a great selection of rum drinks, large bowl drinks, specialty drinks and ice cream drinks. I had the ‘Yellow Bird,’ which is difficult to find elsewhere – a Caribbean drink with rum, Galliano, pineapple juice. The featured drink is the Banana Split, though they have about as many original and newer ones as Smuggler’s – not just beer as I was told (a little tiki bar competition)

BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New Trader Sam’s circa 1940s The place gets crowded, too. Though its out in the Avenues , the bar tender told me they’re packed by 10 pm and stay open to 1:45 am, just like in the old days., The crowd is a mix of locals, mostly younger Asians and other ethnic groups. I doubt that many of them appreciate the historic aspect of this place but I’m sure ome do, as they do get people from all over the world. One problem for me – which could be easily changed – is the music; a heavy dose of rap music does not fit with the ambience. The bar is currently owned by an older military man, who we thank for keeping it as he has, sans music.

Smuggler’s Cove, to be detailed below, is unlike any tiki bar I’ve seen. I will have to give it a slight edge over Trader Sam’s , though its very close. Smuggler’s makes a science out of their drinks – and they charge for it too, nearly twice the price of Trader’s and they’re smaller. But I base my ranking on ‘feel’ and wanting to be in a place and , based on these single visits, I found I enjoyed being in Smuggler’s Cover slightly more than Trader Sam’s. The feel was calmer, though with better music Trader’s could probably reach a tie with Smugglers. Also met some interesting folks , perhaps a little more erudite, than I found at Traders, not that that matters all that much…

51Ehj61Fa9L. SL75 BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New Tiki Drinks

Best Tiki Bars , Original dinner house, original restaurant

BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New WESTLAKE JOE’S , Daly city, CA – I made a first stop at the legendary restaurant and lounge. It’s one of the few big remaining dinner houses and part of the old ‘Joe’s’ chain (but not really sure if this was really a chain, but restaurants are similar from city to city , with only Marin Joe’s , Westlake and perhaps Original Joe’s in SF still around…

Last time I came here I couldn’t get into the place it was so crowded, despite having over 300 seats and two large dining rooms. There’s a huge lounge featuring live music – and that is one of the main reasons I went. The music this night was a three piece band with a flutist sitting in. Playing mostly similar-sounding 60s/70s pop-jazz I wasn’t overly impressed, though I must give it another chance another night or two. But the setting was wonderful, with it’s big angled ceilings, fireplace and wood walls giving a very warm feeling

. 5173JK9HGHL. SL75 BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New Retro Diner: Comfort Food from the American Roadside

One of the dining rooms is appropriately names the ‘Cascade Room,’ certainly a holdover from the early days, as is most everything. Looks pretty orginal , including a circular drive-up and parking where I’m sure a lot of folks drove up in in their old caddies and lincolns.

Didn’t try the food as I’d already eaten at the dissappointing(?) Bucca DeBeppos’s chain – I think other locations are better than San Franciscoc. Will have to try the food next time. Judging by the crowd on this Thursday night-including a long waiting list- I’ll bet the foods very good and probably similar to what it was 50 years ago (not sure as to the exact vintage of the place but will report back next time… But the place is definitely worth coming to just to see a huge old time dinner house you might remember having gone to as a kid.

SEE SMUGLERS COVER PREVIOUS POST

5166N2AD13L. SL75 BEST TIKI BARS Original vs New Diners: American Retro