Margie's Diner, San Luis Obispo, California

One of my favorite stops driving from Los Angeles north is Margie's Diner margie'sin San Luis Obispo. When I first started stopping there, the only Margie's Diner was in San Luis Opispo, in a former Howard Johnsons. Now there are three more in Salinas, Paso Robles and Morro Bay. Margie's is a family business, and the owners were often at the cash register. It's typical diner food in terms of the menu, but it's good food made with fresh local ingredients and served by people who want you to enjoy your meal, and come back. The breakfasts feature homemade buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy and cinnamon rolls, fresh local eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice (or mimosas) and fresh ground Columbian coffee. The problem with breakfast at Margie's is that, well the food is really good and the portions are huge, so I want to take a nap after. Also, it's a good idea to ask for a large coffee to go, and a couple extra cinnamon rolls.

At lunch, I always have a hard time deciding between breakfast, or a really amazing burger and fries with a handmade shake made with actual ice cream. Oh, and a side of onion rings, because the onion rings are fabulous. Of course, the burgers are fabulous too, and it's always hard choosing between the mushroom burger and the bacon burger. They also have reliably good chili, which makes for an incredible chili burger. I have to admit, I've never gotten much beyond the burgers and breakfast offering, but I can recommend the Cold Albacore Tuna and Tomato sandwich. The tuna is made with roasted almonds, and real mayonaise. I can't actually finish the sandwich at a single meal. I've also had the enormous French Dip sandwich. It's a French roll filled with thin sliced roast beef, and served with hot au jus on the side, and, as with the Tuna sandwich, you have a choice of a cup of home made soup, a side salad, fries or onion rings. I always have to take out some of the beef, because the sandwich is huge, and even then, I end up taking half the sandwich with me for later.

Margie's offers freshly baked Sara Lee pies, but I generally am happy with a shake for dessert. You have your choice of chocolate, strawberry, coffee, vanilla, banana or peanut butter shakes, or you can get a sundae or a root beer float. I have been known to ask for a cinnamon roll and cup of coffee, instead. You can plan ahead if you want; the entire menu is here as a .pdf file.