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Home » The Water Cooler – Bringing An “Out of Town” Restaurant To Claycord

The Water Cooler – Bringing An “Out of Town” Restaurant To Claycord

by CLAYCORD.com
95 comments

The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.

The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday in the noon hour.

QUESTION: If you could bring an “out of town” restaurant to Claycord, what would it be?

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Talk about it….

95 comments


Savage January 11, 2021 - 12:02 PM - 12:02 PM

Did I get the first Olive Garden comment.

Randy January 11, 2021 - 12:25 PM - 12:25 PM

yes you did – but I second it +1

Badge1104 January 11, 2021 - 12:58 PM - 12:58 PM

Yes! Olive Garden!
(They are wonderful and it will make CNNs Anderson Cooper mad..the twerp)

Cracky McGee January 11, 2021 - 12:03 PM - 12:03 PM

Cracker Barrel!

Antler January 11, 2021 - 12:29 PM - 12:29 PM

YES! ….. compete with salt dry-cured country ham, the gift shop, and the rocking chairs lined up on the plank-covered porch.

KBB January 11, 2021 - 1:42 PM - 1:42 PM

And the checkerboard!

JG27 AD January 11, 2021 - 3:23 PM - 3:23 PM

Cracker Barrel would be great. Also a Portillos too !!!!

AD

Jeff January 11, 2021 - 8:05 PM - 8:05 PM

When I would meet up with my sister in Wisconsin, we would meet at Cracker Barrel. Food is ok, good comfort food, but I tell ya, in winter, sitting by the roaring fire they have going (complete with crackling sound) makes our visit that much nicer.

Cowellian January 12, 2021 - 9:05 AM - 9:05 AM

Before California had a Cracker Barrel of its own, my son drove his family to Arizona to eat dinner at a Cracker Barrel. The next morning, they had a Cracker Barrel breakfast and then drove home.

Fred January 11, 2021 - 12:03 PM - 12:03 PM

Whataburger

wipe January 12, 2021 - 1:36 PM - 1:36 PM

Totally agree with Whataburger!!!!

Simonpure January 11, 2021 - 12:05 PM - 12:05 PM

Chris & Pitts…home of the live wood fire.

Exit 12A January 11, 2021 - 12:06 PM - 12:06 PM

.
Sonic Drive-In Restaurant.
.
.. because social distancing will always matter.

stoptheinsanity January 11, 2021 - 12:25 PM - 12:25 PM

Arby’s

Simonpure January 11, 2021 - 12:58 PM - 12:58 PM

There was one in Park & Shop…have no idea why they closed.

Strad January 11, 2021 - 1:16 PM - 1:16 PM

There use to be one where New Lims is at on Clayton Road. Too many fast food burger restaurants to complete with is my guess.

Will January 11, 2021 - 12:26 PM - 12:26 PM

Del Taco

Because driving over the hill to Pittsburg is too far

Badge1104 January 11, 2021 - 1:01 PM - 1:01 PM

Yes that would be great! And here I thought I was the only one that drove over the hill to Pittsburgh for del taco!

Shoulda Coulda January 11, 2021 - 3:47 PM - 3:47 PM

Will & Badge 1104 —

There is a Del Taco in Cordelia if you’re
ever passing by that way. I love their
french fries too!

Oh, please January 11, 2021 - 7:25 PM - 7:25 PM

Hear, hear!

Four Corners January 11, 2021 - 12:42 PM - 12:42 PM

Waffle House or Chick Fil A would be great.

Will January 11, 2021 - 12:59 PM - 12:59 PM

There is a Chik Fil A on Main St in Walnut Creek

Randy January 11, 2021 - 4:33 PM - 4:33 PM

… and a Waffle House at Kirker Pass and Clayton Rd

Shoulda Coulda January 12, 2021 - 12:32 AM - 12:32 AM

Randy-

Country Waffles isn’t the same as Waffle House.
Waffle House is more of a southern restaurant.

chuckie the troll January 12, 2021 - 6:30 AM - 6:30 AM

We ate at the Waffle House yesterday morning.

Shoulda Coulda January 12, 2021 - 12:40 PM - 12:40 PM

Very tricky Chuckie—

You might have ate at Waffle House but it
wasn’t in Concord. 🤣🤣🤣

chuckie the troll January 12, 2021 - 6:23 PM - 6:23 PM

Shoulda Coulda-Not only was the Waffle House we ate at not in Concord…it was NOT in California. And I won’t be in California much longer…so it all works for me. Dine-in without California state income taxes.

Shoulda Coulda January 13, 2021 - 12:18 AM - 12:18 AM

Chuckie-

Good luck to you and your family! Next time
we meet at Waffle House, the waffles are on me.

KAD January 11, 2021 - 12:46 PM - 12:46 PM

Cracker Barrel. I miss it so much.

Dawg January 11, 2021 - 12:52 PM - 12:52 PM

I was gonna make a wise crack about the French Laundry and Gavin Newsom, but I’ll be nice.
Patio Espanol on Alemany Blvd. in San Francisco. It has to be one of the best Spanish Restaurants in the Bay Area. Another restaurant I’d like to see here is The Blue Nile on 14th St. in Oakland, wonderful Ethiopian food and polite staff.

Angry Andy January 11, 2021 - 1:03 PM - 1:03 PM

Jimboy’s Tacos!

Mtz January 11, 2021 - 5:21 PM - 5:21 PM

I 2nd Jimboys tacos

Greenjrl January 11, 2021 - 7:11 PM - 7:11 PM

YES! YES! YES!

David January 12, 2021 - 8:52 AM - 8:52 AM

Cracker Barrel. It’s practically a required tourist stop if there is one in the vicinity when traveling.

Mary Fouts January 11, 2021 - 1:13 PM - 1:13 PM

Runza. That’s the only thing I miss from living in Nebraska.

Bluebird January 11, 2021 - 2:41 PM - 2:41 PM

Me too! You might have to explain what a Runza is to these folks.

Has anyone been to Auburn AL and eaten at Sniffers? Really big portions and the food is really good.

NA January 12, 2021 - 9:48 AM - 9:48 AM

Runzas and Tastees.

miguel January 11, 2021 - 1:16 PM - 1:16 PM

Bob Evans or White Castle

Randy January 11, 2021 - 4:35 PM - 4:35 PM

… White Castle at Treat & Clayton Rd… right near Ace Hardware

Shoulda Coulda January 12, 2021 - 12:39 AM - 12:39 AM

Randy—

As far as I can find there are no White Castle’s
in California. The closest one I find is in Las Vegas.

Marco January 12, 2021 - 7:33 AM - 7:33 AM

Last I looked White Castle was all over Orange Co Ca.
But that was 20 years ago.I don’t see them leaving though.

Shoulda Coulda January 12, 2021 - 12:55 PM - 12:55 PM

Marco—

The first White Castle on the West Coast
opened in Las Vegas in 2015. At that time
the closest one to Vegas was 1500 miles
away.
http://socalattractions360.com/first-white-castle-on-the-west-coast-now-open/

Rae Dio January 11, 2021 - 1:44 PM - 1:44 PM

Islands restaurant! I love that place from my So Cal days. If I had lots of money, I’d definitely open one up. https://www.islandsrestaurants.com/menu

Re: Cracker Barrel….. Wouldn’t that be the ideal restaurant to go where the Mel’s was in Concord!!!

Simonpure January 11, 2021 - 2:16 PM - 2:16 PM

Oh yes Rae…I had forgotten all about Islands. I used to live in Orange and we would go to the one on North Tustin Street a couple times a month. I always liked the atmosphere.

KAD January 11, 2021 - 2:40 PM - 2:40 PM

Mel’s location is too far from the freeway for a Cracker Barrel.

Oh, please January 11, 2021 - 7:26 PM - 7:26 PM

Oh, yes! From Orange County and we always went for the tacos. They were my favorite! Love some pineapple in my food 🙂

ClayDen January 11, 2021 - 8:16 PM - 8:16 PM

Definitely Islands! We were disappointed that the one in La Jolla had closed a little over a year ago. The closest one I’m aware of is in the Del Monte Center in Monterey, a good excuse to go to the Monterey Peninsula.

Bad Nombre January 11, 2021 - 1:54 PM - 1:54 PM

Some place that makes and serves genuine Eastern NC barbecue.

Mary Fouts January 11, 2021 - 5:14 PM - 5:14 PM

@Bad Nombre – Years ago, I commuted to Charlotte, NC frequently for business. Never took a liking to the NC barbecue style; waaayyy too vinegary for my taste.

While BBQ style is indeed a personal preference, I don’t see a NC style joint surviving out here.

Antler January 11, 2021 - 6:22 PM - 6:22 PM

Oh, YES!!! That is my favorite style, too….. been too many years since I’ve been “Back Home”!

Badger January 11, 2021 - 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM

French Laundry. But only for the liberal elites.

JazzMan January 11, 2021 - 2:02 PM - 2:02 PM

Cinzetti’s. All you can eat pasta, chicken, etc

Momof2 January 11, 2021 - 2:09 PM - 2:09 PM

Texas Roadhouse

Dorothy January 11, 2021 - 2:46 PM - 2:46 PM

Yes!

NoMoreFreeRide January 11, 2021 - 2:39 PM - 2:39 PM

Steak & Shake and Waffle House

Steven Powers January 11, 2021 - 2:40 PM - 2:40 PM

None…. no one in their right mind would open a new business

Beanburner January 11, 2021 - 3:06 PM - 3:06 PM

oh so doubling the call on Jimboys Tacos and Texas Roadhouse….

Antionus January 11, 2021 - 3:11 PM - 3:11 PM

Driller, the fried pickle experts.

Antonius January 11, 2021 - 3:14 PM - 3:14 PM

Diller, it’s a fried pickle pickle place right next to the Pickle Guys Store in New York.

frambley1 January 11, 2021 - 3:32 PM - 3:32 PM

Trader Vic’s

Macaroni Grill

Shake Shack

Halal Brothers

T-rex January 11, 2021 - 4:10 PM - 4:10 PM

Cicis pizza

Dangerous January 11, 2021 - 4:29 PM - 4:29 PM

Brick House

Blindboy January 11, 2021 - 4:53 PM - 4:53 PM

You have great taste

Hungry January 11, 2021 - 5:24 PM - 5:24 PM

Nandos

Fred January 11, 2021 - 5:24 PM - 5:24 PM

I’ve never had the patience to wait in the line for Franklin’s How about either Kruez Market or Smitty’s from Lockhart? But how can you duplicate 70 years of bbq smoking history?

Always Right January 11, 2021 - 5:48 PM - 5:48 PM

Chik Fil A And TGI Friday

Lambie January 11, 2021 - 6:05 PM - 6:05 PM

I say no thank you to chain restaurants. I want really good food cooked on a real grill, stovetop or oven. Nothing reheated in a microwave.

My picks:
Tartine Bakery in SF
M.H.Bread and Butter in Marin
Sally Loo’s Wholesome Cafe in SLO
Tacolicious in SF

Ilovepopcorn January 12, 2021 - 9:46 AM - 9:46 AM

I am with you! Great choices.

Caskydiver January 11, 2021 - 6:28 PM - 6:28 PM

Rudy’s, Hard 8, or Bonedaddy’s….all in TX and wish they were here.

KBB January 11, 2021 - 9:01 PM - 9:01 PM

Since you mentioned Rudy’s, how about Back’s Original BBQ in Lockhart, TX (Central Texas). Great BBQ!

Jeff January 11, 2021 - 7:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Portillo’s, as mentioned before, and Culver’s would be good too.

MidwestFood January 12, 2021 - 11:16 AM - 11:16 AM

Definitely agree with this!!!
Portillos or Culver’s I would be very happy with!!! Yum
I just had Portillos delivered frozen last week to my concord house

Doh January 11, 2021 - 8:43 PM - 8:43 PM

Lindy’s from NYC. great sandwiches serve with garlic pickles, a Rueben so thick you can’t finish, a cheesecake that’s better than Junior’s IMHO,

Givengold January 11, 2021 - 10:39 PM - 10:39 PM

Chuey’s
We loved them in AZ.
Baja style Tri-tip and tacos.
151 soaked maraschino cherries for dessert.

The Masked (and gloved) Poster January 12, 2021 - 2:04 AM - 2:04 AM

Bring back La Sen, a good, white tablecloth, fine dining restaurant. We have enough of the chains, fast food places, where apparently most of the Claycordians feel most comfortable, and would prefer hanging out. Some place where the menu changes frequently, offers innovative dining. Bring back La Sen from Walnut Creek.

Sam Malone January 12, 2021 - 7:24 AM - 7:24 AM

The old Vanessi’s from San Francisco, Little Joe’s and a Waffle House.

Jeff January 12, 2021 - 7:38 AM - 7:38 AM

Tommy Burger from Southern California. Unbelievable chilli cheese burger.

108RS

Rae Dio January 12, 2021 - 1:39 PM - 1:39 PM

Only at about 2:30 in the morning 🙂

weldorman January 12, 2021 - 8:03 AM - 8:03 AM

Primanti Brothers

Cowellian January 12, 2021 - 8:43 AM - 8:43 AM

Y’all need to try The Pharmacy Burger for great burgers. Of course, I guess opening a second one would technically make them a chain.

Tam January 12, 2021 - 9:11 AM - 9:11 AM

Yes to Flint’s! They had the best BBQ.

frambley1 January 12, 2021 - 9:25 AM - 9:25 AM

I forgot to mention Bake Sale Betty’s. Winner of the Chicken Sandwich War.

Ilovepopcorn January 12, 2021 - 9:54 AM - 9:54 AM

I forgot a few of those restaurants. Great choices. When you think about it there are very few good places to eat. I liked the Cape Cod In Lafayette and El Charro. The pandemic is only a part of these failures. A lot of these places have failed pre pandemic. The only place I go to is Wendy’s for the Dave’s Hamburger with extra pickles, frys and a drink. Then I eat it at strip mall in Danville. Woop-de-doo! Thanks to COVID-19. Nothing is available.

Pony January 12, 2021 - 11:33 AM - 11:33 AM

Taco Johns

Texas Roadhouse

Pony January 12, 2021 - 11:33 AM - 11:33 AM

Taco Johns

Texas Roadhouse

Roscoe January 12, 2021 - 12:24 PM - 12:24 PM

Portillos – best hot dogs ever! And Mangiano’s!

ClayDen January 12, 2021 - 6:30 PM - 6:30 PM

I assume you’re talking about Maggiano’s Little Italy? We ate at the one in Nashville about 4 years ago on our way from Asheville NC to Paducah KY and it was very good. I just checked and while not in Claycord, there’s one in Santana Row in San Jose.

Shoulda Coulda January 12, 2021 - 1:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Hillbilly Hotdogs from West Virginia. Home of
the Big Bubba 30lb. Triple Wide Burger!
IMG_8589.jpg

Hash House A Go Go from Las Vegas. One
of their breakfasts will last you for a week!

Heart Attack Grill from Las Vegas. If you weigh
over 300lbs. you eat free. What can I say,
big guys like big food. (No, I don’t eat for free
at the Heart Attack Grill).

JJ January 12, 2021 - 6:43 PM - 6:43 PM

El Tepeyac on Evergreen in LA.
Yum.

SmileWC January 12, 2021 - 7:34 PM - 7:34 PM

Raising Cane is pretty darn good. I also like Oreganos.

Dr. Jellyfinger January 12, 2021 - 7:43 PM - 7:43 PM

Corky’s BBQ

Jack's Fan January 12, 2021 - 9:25 PM - 9:25 PM

El Pollo Inka. Best Peruvian food the way it should be, half a chicken of pollo a la brasa with soup, fresh bread and sides for two around $20.

The Masked (and gloved) Poster January 13, 2021 - 10:24 AM - 10:24 AM

Did you mean Inca, rather than Inka? And where is this?
“Pollo a la brasa” simply means grilled chicken, which is available at Lima, a very good Peruvian restaurant in Concord, and probably other Peruvian places. It’s all in the seasoning.

Duck January 13, 2021 - 12:24 AM - 12:24 AM

Franklin’s BBQ TX or Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ KS.

FPN January 13, 2021 - 11:16 AM - 11:16 AM

Long John Silvers, or H. Salt esq. Also miss Cape Cod House great Oysters Kirpatrick and Rockefeller.


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