Aiee! It's here!

[chipotle]

There's a few chain restaurants I've missed since I moved out here. A few "little" ones, ones that aren't going to make you go wow but are just good hangout joints -- Steak-n-Shake, Waffle House (God help me). And, Panera Bread Cafe. In the Bay Area, Le Boulanger wants to be a Panera, but they don't quite cut it: their sandwiches and soups are good enough, but their pastries pale in comparison and their atmosphere is more like a fast food restaurant than a cafe. And to add lameness, they all close at 7:00 pm at the latest.

Today, I drove south to Gilroy and found the first Panera Bread in Northern California, which has only been open since Thursday. Those who know Gilroy will probably ask, "Gilroy? Why Gilroy?"; the answer is, apparently, because it's growing real fast, and the Panera is in one of two retail centers that weren't there a year ago, stocked with upscale suburban tenants.

And, like most Panera Bread Cafes now, it has free wi-fi. That's new in the last two years, but they've always been laptop friendly, with plenty of tables that have electrical outlets.

I ended up staying there close to seven hours, having lunch and then later an afternoon pastry with coffee. (Their coffee is, to be truthful, so-so at best, but it's drinkable and there are free refills.)

For better or worse, Gilroy is too far to travel to hang out too often, although it's probably a bit closer--and certainly faster to get to--than Soquel, where my favorite independent coffee shop is.

But, they're opening a Panera in Cupertino soon, I'm told, and there are plans for 15 around the SF Bay Area.

Comments

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

I never thought Steak & Shake was that good, really. Not sure what else to say about it, just that everyone seems to think it's awesome and I find it unremarkable... maybe it's the cost/meat ratio.

[raventail2.livejournal.com]

Same here. I've always found Steak & Shake's food to be rather bland. Maybe it's that they seem to concentrate more on the decor than the food.

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

It's not awesome -- I specifically disclaimed "wow factor," after all. :) Can you get better burgers? Sure. Around the South Bay, Kirk's and Mojo Burger are both better... but they're not much faster than SnS, they're not full table service, and I think they're actually a little more expensive. I like Steak-n-Shake because it's a cheap diner joint. It's Johnny Rockets with a bigger menu and without the irritating retro pretense. It's full table service with a dessert menu I really don't think can be beat for the price. And try getting a chili five-way at McDonald's. Not gonna happen. (Let alone when you're driving back from somewhere and it's 1 am.)

I'm sure it's a 'your mileage may vary' thing, and I'm sure quality at various branches varies, too. Maybe the ones around mordrul suck, I don't know. But personally, I miss having 'em around.

[varjohaltia.livejournal.com]

You know, Whataburgers are suddenly popping up all over central Florida again.

But yeah. S'n'S food isn't gourmet -- but it's decent, very reasonably priced, the menu is nice and varied, they actually have pretty good shakes (their banana split shake was quite awesome) and as you stated, at 2 am, or even at 11 pm, it's about the only decent hangout left open in most places.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I'm just used to everyone gawping at Steak & Shake when they're on vacation or something like it kicks all kinds of ass, and I'm there with them thinking 'What? It's just a Howard Johnson's with a radically stripped-down menu.' Perhaps they are bedazzled by the checkerboards. Therefore I must punch holes in that particular balloon whenever I can.

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

Wow... Panera was the big place you were talking about? We have one of those in GR. I'd often pondered going there just to check it out, and because I definitely like bread, but never really did.

And I agree on the Steak & Shake... I've been to two different ones, on the theory that the first one was just poorly run. Unremarkable is probably the nicest thing I could possibly say about it, and I'd need a bribe first.

I like Waffle House though. Much better than IHOP.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

Out on the way to the mall, coming off the highway. There was a nice 'Mediterranean' place near there, did great stuffed grape leaf. It was good all around, actually.

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

I think I know what you're talking about. I can't think of the name to save my life though. But I've seen it.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

It was next to a 'Play It Again Sports' that closed down.

Mancino's is okay, too. There's one in GR kind of near the new Meijer on the east side of town, past the highway. I think that's where it was. They were a lot better when I was living in Kalamazoo, though... maybe the one in GR is just crap, or they all went downhill.

If you ever get to Kalamazoo, you need to try Coney Island Hot Dogs. Downtown K'zoo. There's also one kind of northeast-ish, but it's not as easy to find. This one's right downtown. I don't think I've had a better hot dog, partly because of the meat. If I could I'd have them ship Kogel's hot dogs out here.

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was just there about a month ago, doing a satellite installation, took a lunch break and decided to see what was around, and decided that was interesting. It was closed down. >.<

However this one place opened up just down the road from the apartment I used to live in, just off I-96. They specialize in Coney dogs, made with Koegel dogs no less. And open 24 hours. Even better, they also do Flint-style. They are damn good, and my roommate and I would hit them quite frequently. I'm going to miss that place.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

Erk. Coney Island was closed down? That's not good.

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

Well I think we're talking about the same place. I've only been to Kalamazoo a few times, each time just to go do a satellite dish installation. I just remember driving down some main road near the highway in search of some food, and all I could find within a reasonable driving distance was a coney dog place, which when I drove up to it was closed down, so I ended up doing the old gas station burrito lunch. I couldn't even tell you what road I was on, unfortunately.

[bigtig.livejournal.com]

I have absolutely no idea why Waffle House holds the sway over my soul it does. It's like it fills some deep dark corner of blue-collar-grease-food-need that I don't wish to acknowledge. We had one near college and I loved it. Now, I can only stop at them when travelling.

Good food. And don't forget the "waffle house theme song" on the juke box.

[duncanroo.livejournal.com]

I could have sworn Foofers talked about a Panera Bread in Fremont about a year ago.

But all we need now is a Dunkin Donuts, and all will be right with the world.

Ooh! Ooh! And a Chik-Fil-A that's not an enormous drive to Sacramento.

-- Duncan

[mordrul.livejournal.com]

And now this reminds me of the fact that we just got ourselves a Krispy Kreme in GR a few years ago, and I was one of those who showed up during the brouhaha for my free donut. And to be honest I have no idea what the fuss is about. They're good, but not fantabulous. About two will kill my desire to have any more sugar for the rest of the day. Truth be told, I'll take Dunkin Donuts any day. Thankfully there's one just two blocks away from the Krispy Kreme, along with a Baskin Robbins.

[prickvixen.livejournal.com]

For a while the closest Krispy Kreme was in Detroit, and a friend of mine and I up and decided to drive out there one day from Kalamazoo, just to get donuts. We did things like that.

[tuftears.livejournal.com]

Mm, Panera Bread. I liked hitting them up for lunch when I was out in Florida. Will have to check it out when they get local.

[polarisslbm.livejournal.com]

I am so lost, I do not know of any of those places. :)

[cetasdolphin.livejournal.com]

I don't know of most of these places as well, it must be a West Coast thing. All I know is that my area in the South finally seems to have gotten a Starbucks near to me, and the local Dunkin Donuts seems to have been renovated to be a Baskin Robbins as well (which is nice seeing the old store was getting a rather dirty appearance). As for Dunkin Donuts it seems many are regional based as the one down here serves a particular type of donut my mother loves (White Cream filled), yet when we went up to visit my uncle in the Northeast, we had to visit up to at least 20 or more stores and go though two states just to find one store that sold that particular variety of donut.

Compare

[(Anonymous)]

So you really think Panera is better than LeB? I am only asking this because we have had LeB near here and did not know about this new Panera place. If you think it is better, I will go tonight for dinner. I live in Gilroy, so it will be a lot easier of a trip.

Michael G

Re: Compare

[chipotle.livejournal.com]

Well, it's certainly worth checking out if you're near the place. I definitely think Panera's the better of the two places to actually sit down at. Most of the Boulanger locations I've been to feel a little too "fast food" in comparison; even though Panera is exactly the same kind of counter service, they have a better atmosphere.

[ravagefox.livejournal.com]

I've been to a Steak & Sheak in indie once, while we were on our way down to Arkansas. That place was awesome. I just wish there were more than two TOTAL in Pennsylvania. :P