The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we will ask you a question or provide a topic, and you will talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: What is one restaurant (that’s currently in or out of business) that is no longer in Claycord that you wish would make a comeback to central Contra Costa County?
Talk about it….
Pick Up Stix. It was a fast Chinese chain restaurant in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center that is far superior to Panda Express. They still exist in Southern California, but they closed all of their Bay Area stores.
Tahoe joes
The Green Parrot Hof Brau.
My parents would take my brother and I to China King every Sunday right by Montgomery Ward. I miss the 90s
Just one?
Marie Callender’s.
Anna Miller’s Pies
Baker’s Square
Pak India
The old Swagat
Spenger’s (OK, that’s a little far away)
Chevy’s
Scott’s
Vic Stewart’s
The old Freddie’s Pizza
Berkeley Farms
Marie Callender really should come back. The employees were dishonest and ruined the business. A new staff would make it thrive. I miss it…. Walnut Creek and Concord
Ancient
As a Lafayette girl Freddie’s was the best. Jim in the window tossing dough with a Pal Mall hanging out of his mouth and the “coffee” in his mug.
The other 2 Lafayette treasures were El Charro (I have the dip recipe) and Lafayette Seafood Grotto
I miss El Charro !!!
WCMom
I keep the memory of El Charro alive by making the dip frequently
This is a list of the most disgusting, hedge-fund owned former slophouses in all of Claycord, save a few OK ones. 🙂
I had forgotten about Anna Miller’s, with their pie shop on the lower level by Penney’s and the restaurant on the upper level by Sears. One of my favorite lunches was their Chicken Pot Pie and Spinach salad combo.
The Peppermill and the Velvet Turtle.
Ah! The cocktail waitresses in the slinky dresses. Classy.
Yorks, that’s going way back
Mary’s Pizza Shack
WOOLWORTH’S counter and two booths. My very first ever grilled cheese and coke.
The open faced hot turkey sandwich! Bring it back to Park n Shop!
The Olive Garden 🤪….oh, wait: they haven’t come here yet, so I can’t miss them yet.🤗
Seriously, I’d have to say El Torito in the Willow sShopping Center. We really enjoyed that place!
Olive garden was in Concord I believe long ago, or maybe it was Red Lobster.
HMS Endeavor
Biggest meat market back then! If you came out a that bar without a pickup you had problems..
HMS was the first stop on the Herpes Triangle.
La Fogata in Walnut Creek
Tahoe Joes
Only one? Le Virage would be my first pick.
It was a French restaurant located on North Main
in Walnut Creek. A little pricey, but wonderful
French food.
My second pick is CC Ole’s, good Mexican
restaurant serving good Mexican food, located
on Clayton Rd in Concord.
And last but not least, Yet Wah was one of the
best Mandarin restaurants in the entire Bay Area.
It was also located on Clayton Rd in Concord.
Yet Wah had several restaurants, the best one was
on Diamond Heights in San Francisco.
I believe there is one Yet Wah left, in San Rafael.
Worked there in the 80’s one of the craziest place you could ever work. Wonderful food and lots of people with drugs in the private rooms. The owner Lolek was an interesting guy.
Velvet Turtle, Cantina, Scott’s (actually in WC) , El Torito, Red Onion, Love’s Pit BBQ
I was a cook at Loves and also Panchitos Mexican. Loved those days finding out what I did NOT want my career to be!
Mr Steak, Big haired waitresses in short skirts and cocktails, who could want more from a steakhouse
Sizzler.
I forgot to mention Mr. Pickwick’s!
Best fish and chips.
I do miss CC Ole’s and Mr Pickwicks.
Evie’s at Encina Grande.
Good food, nice people.
Granted it was barely acceptable near the end, but I really enjoyed stopping in at Claim Jumper for lunch at the bar while watching a baseball game.
The Pioneer Inn–Clayton
J J North!!where the Golden Corral at next to Buffalo Wild Wings . . Miss that buffet.
Carlos Murphy’s in PH in the 80s.
CC Ole’s. Had many good meals and times there.
El Charro, Lettuce Romain Friends (in the Clayton Valley Shopping Center) and La Cocotte in Clayton.
La Sen Bistro moved to WC 🙁
Gordos Burgers
Chevy’s, nothing else is close. For what it was, Chevy’s was great food at a great price, and the fresh tortillas, thin chips and house salsa was fantastic.
Evie’s drive in with car hops on CC Blvd in PH in the 80s. Weren’t there long but catered to the muscle car owner/cruising crowd. Great burgers and fries.
I agree with Pick Up Stix (tasty food made to order) and Green Parrot Hof Brau from the Sun Valley Mall. The latter retired.
I also miss Black Angus in Pleasant Hill
Carlos Murphy’s
cc oles on clayton road
they made the best taquitos
La Tours on Clayton and Babel. On my, the potato soup.
Cantina de los Tres Hombres
El Torito in the Willows!!! fabulous Champagne brunch
I loved their Cadilac Margaritas
Clayton Village Chinese Restaurant
Mr. Steak
Marie Calendars
Sambo’s