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

[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.