We’ve been going to this restaurant for 15 years or so… and have always considered it a favorite. You still can’t beat the beach atmosphere… and downtown Oceanside Main Street flavor.

But something has changed… not sure if it has changed ownership… but… it has lost it’s passion…

The last time I was in here… I felt the same way… and treated it as a bad day for them… as they were really busy. Well they are always busy… and maybe they are just tired. This trip was right at noon on Labor Day… Monday Sept. 7th, 2009… and there was a standing line. We were told 15 minutes. As we worked our way up to the front of the line… a local regular came in and was seated prior to us… then a couple that came in after us was seated prior to us… and I guess the crowning blow was a couple that was seated after us… got water… coffee… and placed their order prior to us. We were in no hurry… and having fun… but were dissapointed in the lack of attention to detail.

Terri ordered the “BYO Scramble with Ham” and a side of hash browns. I ordered a house specialty “Pot Roast Sandwich”… and pictured chucks of Pot Roast… on toast… smoothered in home made gravy. I didn’t think anything unusual about the side choices of potato salad or fries. Chose the fries.

The service was from that point on… pleasant and responsive and we had a good meal… at a fair price.

But when my dish was delivered… I was amazed… Pot Roast was sliced beef. An open faced sliced roast beef sandwich without mashed potatos… how uncivilzed :-) And… the gravy was canned… or bottled… but did not suggest home made… but it was tasty enough that I wished there had been more. Garnished with two pickle slices…. and two tiny pepperocini’s … well just look at the photo… does that look bland?

It was a holiday… it was the third day of a long weekend… it was noon… and they were swamped. Am I being too critical. No… I think not… I was the first to review them… added them to my favorites years ago… gave them the I love this restaurant tag… and been loyal to them… but going back to my original review… Always good… they actually used to be Always great.. or at least very good.

Having nothing to do with the food :-)…. but more to do with the observed and felt change… both rest rooms were out of paper products… and filthy.

Now you can tell by my photo that I’m no Spring Chicken… maybe I’ve become a grumpy old man… in fact I have. But I have loved this place for years… and sure would like to see them bring back the passion.

Now this place has been good for years. Used to be smaller … in the South end of town… now right downtown… close to the Pier etc. Fun Atmosphere… and always good food.

This was our second time eating at this restaurant. The food as always was great. Portion sizes are great! Menu selections are much more varied than what you may find in a typical east coast diner/restaurant of similar size. The prices are quite reasonable. The most expensive menu items are about $12.00. I highly recommend this for a great breakfast or lunch. It’s especially nice on Thursdays because the side street abutting the restaurant hosts a large farmers market/street festival every Thursday (at least during the spring/summer and fall)!