Bubba’s Diner, San Anselmo
Bubba's Diner in San Anselmo, California
We were heading to Fairfax so, as usual, I checked the internet for somewhere to eat in the area. I came across a brilliant site called Anna’s Cool Finds with over 100 places to eat breakfast in Marin County. We were spoilt for choice but plopped for Bubba’s Diner in San Anselmo. The only other place we have had breakfast in San Anselmo is Easy Street Cafe in the Red Hill Shopping Center. I noticed it is not on Anna’s Cool Finds – I wonder why?
Our GPS got us to the right place and Tom and I were so surprised to find ourselves in downtown San Anselmo. We have always driven straight through and never realized such an interesting place existed just a stone’s throw from Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Lots of cool shops and several places to eat. Parking at just after 8 on a Saturday morning was readily available. As we walked towards Bubba’s Diner we could hear rather loud music which was coming from the diner but it was more subdued inside thank goodness.
The decor inside is red, white and the occasional black tile and the booths are bright red. It is your typical American diner but not very big at all. There are eight stools at the counter; one big booth in the window, four booths seating four people; two tables and chairs inside and two outside on the sidewalk. There was a sign up sheet just inside and a sign saying ‘Please wait to be seated’. but as there were very few customers, the server told us to sit where wherever we wanted. We chose a booth with a sign saying it was ‘Alex and Jean’s Booth’. It was supposed to be for four people but it would be a tight squeeze. Tom and I played footsie under the table the whole time.
The menu is adequate and there is a sheet of specials. Tom chose the Chorizo Y Huevos Scramble from the specials list for $12.95. No oatmeal at all so I chose the large bowl of fresh fruit for $6.95 plus a round of toast for $1.50. Tom had coffee, which he said was very good by the way, and I just had the water.
Each table was equipped with a wide range of condiments. Apart from the sugar – both package and pourable, the bowl of half and half milk cartons, Heinz tomato ketchup, Heinz pourable mustard and the cartons of preserves, there were 3 Beaver mustards – Deli, Sweet Hot and Jalapeno, plus a Beaver Cream Horseradish.
The walls are covered with several old coca cola signs but predominantly with all manner of adverts with Bubba in the title including two framed T-shirts, one from Bubbs’ Pub in Palm Springs and one from Bubba’s Used Cars in Islanton, South Carolina. Just over Tom’s shoulder I could see a framed photo of a sign from South Georgia saying ‘Elect H M “Bubba” Roberts Sheriff”.
Tom’s chorizo scramble came with home fries, fresh salsa and guacamole with corn tortillas on the side. The server also brought three different bottles of hot sauces. They obviously go for hot spicy food here. I was a bit disappointed with my fresh fruit. I’m sure it was fresh but it was not the crisp, clean slices or segments with bright purple grapes I was expecting. To me it looked wet and mushy. It wasn’t very colorful either with its cubes of water melon, pineapple, mango and papya. Some of the bits were very small as well. It tasted OK though.
To get to the restroom you have to walk through the prep area. I did not have high expectations of the facilities but was very pleasantly surprised. It was clean and functional but the items hanging on the wall made this a special place. Two were dedicated to the Statue of Liberty plus there was a cookie tin with the top of the Statue of Liberty embossed on the bottom of each hole. There was a cartoon strip about someone with bad breath and two notices – one forbidding spitting and the other advertising for grape stompers but they must have large feet and good balance. My favorite though was a Gail Goodwin poster of five kids sitting in a diner booth and, guess what, the diner is Bubba’s. One other sign which caused me to come away with a smile on my face and this I almost missed. It was on the top of the paper towel dispenser and it said more or less (I didn’t have my notebook with me so I’m not a hundred percent certain that I’ve remembered it correctly) ‘All employees, even if you are considering becoming an employee of Bubba’s or a family member of an employee of Bubba’s or dating an employee of Bubba’s, must wash their hands. Everybody else can decide for themselves.’ Definitely an amusing visit.
Now for the verdict. The food was tasty, though the appearance of mine was disappointing and the prices were a bit steep but the coffee was good. Service perfectly acceptable and surroundings pleasing. Would we come here again? Probably.
Bubba’s Diner
566 San Anselmo Ave
San Anselmo CA 94960
August 24 2009 | Breakfast Log | 1 Comment »
