Decades later, these 8 Peninsula diners are still serving up American classics
With so many swanky restaurants opening along the Peninsula (and many more to come), we’re instead focusing this week on old-school diners – where unpretentious fare is served in a charmingly antiquated ambiance, a cup of joe is readily poured and American classics are served.
Writer Daisy Barringer rounded up eight Peninsula diners with decades of history and plenty of pancake flipping.
And while we’re on the topic of diners, writer Jake Hutchinson did some digging on the latest with Heidi’s Pies, a beloved former 24-hour diner rumored to be closing soon. Turns out, it’s not going anywhere – for another three years at least.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
From pancakes to pies, classic diners endure on the Peninsula
Step into a diner and the outside world slips away. Vinyl booths, the clatter of plates, the smell of bacon on the griddle — it’s a time capsule, equal parts nostalgic and necessary.
A new omakase restaurant opens, Heidi’s Pies is sticking around and a prominent food blogger is coming to Palo Alto
- Downtown Redwood City gets yet another omakase restaurant: Sushi Kinsen replaces Nagai Edomae Sushi.
- San Mateo institution Heidi’s Pies was rumored to be closing with the retirement of its manager, but he’s not planning on leaving for another three years.
- Sana’a Cafe, a Yemeni cafe that expanded to Mountain View earlier this year, is soft opening in Redwood City Friday.
- Sigona’s Fall Food Festival is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Redwood City store. Expect free samples, more than 20 local food vendors and artisanal food crafters, live music and entertainment as well as wine and cheese tasting.
- Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest will be holding a book signing at Williams Sonoma in Palo Alto Tuesday at 6 p.m.
- Slice House by Tony Gemignani plans to expand to Millbrae in December.
- The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors recently approved nearly $900,000 in food assistance.
Steak and sushi at JOEY Valley Fair
JOEY is perhaps the antithesis of a classic American diner.
Walk in, and you’re immediately whisked away from Silicon Valley and into Miami nightlife. And yes, I know it’s a Canadian chain, but something about the ambiance feels distinctly Miami and is a huge juxtaposition to typical Bay Area restaurants.
I’d argue that upscale Bay Area restaurants typically have a semi-quiet, understated ambiance, often influenced by Japanese or other Asian architectural styles. JOEY, with its moody yet energetic ambiance, feels like a place that would convert into a nightclub after a certain time.
Reservations for JOEY fill up fast, and after checking in with the host, you’re given the option of a glass of sparkling wine or tea. In my opinion, it is genius of JOEY to serve guests alcohol on an empty stomach because food generally tastes even better when you’re tipsy.
The menu is quite large, another major difference between JOEY and typical upscale restaurants in the Bay Area. And quite a few cuisines are represented. You could be noshing on Szechuan lettuce wraps and chicken Parmesan while your friend eats fish tacos and Cajun blackened chicken.
Perhaps the most prominent categories on JOEY’s menu, however, are steak and sushi, with the option of ordering both, which I did. Tatatki-style steak with ponzu sauce can be served with your choice of seared salmon sushi or tuna and avocado crunch roll, and I choose the latter ($39).
The steak was a perfect medium-rare, well-seasoned and very tender. The ponzu sauce added a bright flavor that balanced the rich meat well. The sushi was delicious, albeit with a bit too much rice for my liking.
I also tried the Baja cauliflower tacos and spaghetti pomodoro ($21-$25), which were both executed and seasoned well. In previous visits to JOEY, I’ve also tried the hummus (which is served with tzatziki and olives), Szechuan tofu lettuce wraps, miso-roasted mushrooms, molten chocolate cake and butter cake ($13-$23), and I’ve found all the food to be quite tasty.
My one critique? For a restaurant with the bar as a major focal point, JOEY’s cocktail menu isn’t all that exciting. It offers just the classics.
JOEY, 2855 Stevens Creek Blvd., Suite 1840, Santa Clara; 669-899-5639, Instagram: @joeyrestaurants. Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Happy hour Monday to Thursday from 3-6 p.m.
Yemenite-Israeli cafe The Ma’lawah Bar opens in Palo Alto specializing in jachnun and malawach
‘If you put a lot of love in your food, it will love you back,’ owner Doreet Jehassi says
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