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75 Plus Years Last summer, Don and I had a memorable meal at Plaza Cafe, in downtown Santa Fe.  The menu told us it had been around for 75 years, but the history goes further back. Serving Since 1905 This prime spot, overlooking the historic Santa Fe Plaza, has been serving up authentic traditional dishes, for 120 years.  The pretty building is older than it looks. It doesn't have the soft curves you see in so many of Santa Fe's historic pueblo style buildings. This building on the Plaza, has housed a restaurant since 1905. I'm guessing the building is even older. New Owner in 1947 In 1947 a Greek immigrant named Dan Razatos, took over the Plaza Cafe.. from another owner, who was also a Greek immigrant.  While running his cafe, Dan met and married a local girl named Beneranda. Together they raised 6 kids and ran the Plaza Cafe together. Son Leonardo owns today. Our Visit in 2024 The cafe's exterior didn't look much different when we arrived in 2024, than when Mr. Razotos opened in 1947.  The brick and glass reminded me of Ben Franklin's or Cunningham Drugs, from when I lived in Grinnell, Iowa in the 1960s. Classic Diner The interior was bright and cheery at 11:30 am.  The old fashioned diner look was quite a surprise. It's not what we usually expect in Santa Fe. Counter Seating It was tempting to have a seat at the counter. I loved swiveling on a stool when I was a kid at Cunningham's... having grilled cheese or ice cream.  It's always fun keeping an eye on the action. Especially when there's a friendly staff of nearly a dozen, dressed in white shirts with black bowties! Design with China I was also entertained by the display above the counter.  What a clever way to make use of broken diner china... cups, saucers and plates! Tables & Booths Most guests opted for tables. Actually all guests did.  I was sorry the tables filled quickly before I could get nosy and look at some of the framed photos and art. I did manage to sneak a peek at this photo. Taken in 1949, during the Fiesta Parade.  Too bad the cafe no longer has that great neon sign. Near the Window We were seated at a comfy table in the front section. A great view of the whole restaurant and the colorful patio, just out the window.  Don sat beneath a wreath of red chiles and displayed jars of Plaza Cafe's special sauces. Salsas, I presume. Portrait Not far from where Don was sitting, was a large portrait on the wall.
Beneranda Razatos ran the cafe for many years without the help of Dan. Her husband died 25 years before her, in 2022. She was well loved at the Plaza and in the community. Breakfast & Lunch The cafe served breakfast until 4, so Don was able to order scrambled eggs with a big slab of ham, hash browns and toast.  He was mighty pleased. The lunch/dinner menu offered everything from Posole (pork & hominy stew) to grilled salmon. But I chose a spinach salad that made me so happy!  My bowl was full of goodies! Was this a shredded hard boiled egg? It was a tasty topping, sprinkled over my greens, onions, mushrooms and bacon. The warm bacon vinaigrette dressing was tangy-yummy! The chili-cheddar crostini was an added treat. I think our server Esther called in Pepper Bread. Surprise in the Wall I took a trip to the restroom after we finished and found 2 surprises. One was the fun wallpaper in the hallway.  The other was behind glass. Part of the original adobe wall was on display. I'm sure this building has had many renovations, but somewhere along the way, they decided to preserve this peek at the past. I wish I could have found more history about the age of the building before 1905! Cheers to Esther! Our server Esther took such good care of us. She chatted and answered silly questions every time she stopped by our table. She was efficient and friendly and I finally just had to ask how long she'd been working at The Plaza.  42 years! "What!!? You must have been a baby!" Before long we heard more of her story. She'd moved to the States as a teen in 1986. She found herself working for the Razotos Family and was very grateful for their support. She laughed as she remembered the very first order she took and how she messed it up. Eventually she became a citizen and brought her parents and 10 siblings from Guatemala. There were many servers working on that July day and we lucked out with Esther! Heading Off We left feeling happily satisfied with our breakfast/lunch.  But we were even more pleased that we'd experienced another side of Santa Fe. Our little retro diner had a whole different kind of vibe and history than much of Old Santa Fe. And our server made the experience extra nice. Next Time In a couple of weeks we'll be back in Santa Fe, dining on New Mexican cuisine, at some of our favorite places.  I'm hoping to return to Plaza Cafe. It's a refreshing change. This time I hope to sit on the patio, overlooking the old Plaza. And maybe I'll order the Greek Salad, in honor of the Cafe's Greek roots. That should be just right... along with a Red Velvet Cupcake!
I hope we see Esther!
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Summer 2024 I'm so glad Don and I got to once again have a breakfast adventure, at Fleetwood Diner!  Last June, we made it back in Ann Arbor on a warm summery day. 1980 Before then, the last time we stopped at the iconic diner, was on a frigid February day in 1980. We were still newlyweds, stopping through town on our way from St. Louis, to the Lake Placid Olympics in NY. We had breakfast with my little brother and he snapped our pic.  44 years later, my older brother took a photo of Don and me. The little diner, built from a kit in 1949, had changed a bit over the years. In 1997, stainless steel panels were added, to cover the original enamel exterior. Now stickers cover the stainless walls. On the Corner Don and I arrived around 9 am. The college town was still sleepy on a June morning.  I tried to recall when I'd first eaten at the diner. It must have been around 1973. I was 16 and my family had just moved to Ann Arbor. That was about a year after the old Dag-Wood's Diner building, (from the 1949) became Fleetwood Diner. 2005 I also snapped a photo of the Fleetwood, in the fall of 2005. We were in town with our daughter, who was a freshman at U of M. There was no time for a meal, but I pointed the epic food joint out to Heidi and told her my recollections from when I was a teen. I remember being intimidated by what seemed, a tough dining crowd and a grumpy cook and impatient servers. Could have just been me.  Heidi was amused when I reminded her that her parents never knew each other Ann Arbor. Don and I both lived in the liberal college town, from 1973-75. I was in high school and Don was a UM student. We didn't meet until 1977, when living in St. Louis. Our breakfast in 1980 was extra special, since we were sharing an Ann Arbor experience for the first time. Stickers! Last summer, I admired the quiet diner as we approached. I noticed the glowing neon letters on the sign. (new sign in 1992)  I was surprised to see stickers plastering the stainless steel panels and glass windows. There were bacon smells and sounds of music when I opened the door. Middle Eastern music?  Once inside we found 6 tables and 5 stools, all empty. I don't remember ever seeing this sticker craziness. I do remember having to wait for a table, though. Maybe it's more crowded late at night, since the diner is open 24 hours. Colorful Corner Weather was so lovely outside, but we chose an inside table, where we could be entertained by the happy banter between 2 young women servers and a man standing over the sizzling grill.  We ordered coffee first. The stickers were also entertaining.  The white walls, windows and ceiling were covered in colorful images and words. The YETI sticker was a reminder that it was not 1973.  I don't remember the interior ever feeling this tidy. The stickers weren't at all grungy. They seemed somewhat thoughtfully placed.  We placed our orders with Ari (hope that's right) and I asked her about all those stickers. She laughed that she'd been working at Fleetwood for 7 years and they part of the job was "policing" the stickers. I guess some questionables have to be removed. Ari & Jeff I interrupted Jeff while he was cooking our breakfast on the grill. I seized the moment, just before a party of 6 headed inside.  I never in a million years would have asked to get a photo of any employees on past visits. But now, the vibe was very welcoming. I pulled up my 1980 photo on my phone and both were properly amused. Meaty Hippie Hash Here's a photo of me with my humongous plate of Hippie Hash!  The Original Hippie Hash breakfast has been on the menu since Fleetwood opened in 1971. I ordered the meaty version for $13.59.  Hash browns with corned beef, topped with grilled green peppers, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, mushrooms and feta cheese. 2 eggs any style. It was absolutely packed with tangy flavor. The broccoli may not be for all, but I loved how the tiny pieces blended right in! Family Dining A meal at Fleetwood Diner is always more fun with a brother. This time it was my older brother and his wife. They Ubered over from our hotel for a late breakfast. Don and I took our coffee outside to join them.  I felt like we lucked out with an inside & outside dining adventure, rolled into one. There we were, sitting under the metal awning, dining on the sidewalk at Ann Arbor's very first sidewalk cafe. We did our posing just before taking off. So glad to have made another Fleetwood Memory.  So glad this little business is still on the corner, serving up pretty darn decent diner food!
Diner Stop in Arizona In the summer of 2023, we had a festive stop at Mr. D'z, while traveling Route 66.  Don and I were traveling from Oregon to Texas, with our daughter, son-in-law and 2 year-old granddaughter. This looked like a perfect lunch stop to please all of us. Kingman There are at least a dozen major cities on historic Route 66. I have absolutely no clue how many towns are along the complicated route.  Kingman is certainly not the most well known, so I had to Google it. I learned only 1 noteworthy fact. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard were married in Kingman, during a break in Clark's filming of Gone With the Wind. Now that's a fun tidbit! Route 66 Shield We arrived around 1 pm and parked in a large lot. A big Route 66 shield, with "Mr. D'z" at the top, greeted us on the pavement.  These shield signs have been marking the highway since the 1920s. But only in recent years have they become selfie photo ops, for Rt 66 travelers. I totally missed that opportunity. I could have posed for an extra special photo, since I was 66 years old, traveling Route 66! Lots to Lure Us! The bright colors were enough to make me pull in for a burger! The image of Marilyn Monroe on a motorcycle, might have encouraged a few bikers.  Besides the yummy sign, (with burger, fries and root beer) there was a 1950s police car to excite me.  And an old blue Chevy truck. I love colorful vintage vehicles! Mr. Don's Photo Op I didn't get myself in a photo, but insisted Don pose. We could pretend the diner was named for him.  But the words over Don's right shoulder told us the D was for Dunton. Who was Mr. Dunton? Established 1992 Turns out the Mr. D's Route 66 Diner wasn't all that old. Brothers Roy and Scott Dunton, bought property in 1991. I guess there were originally 2 misters.  The brothers gutted the old 1930s gas station & cafe and opened a '50s style diner in 1992. Roy passed away some time ago, but evidently Scott died just a couple months before our 2023 visit. Today Today the pumps are gone and bright pink and teal paint covers the white.  Picnic tables sit under the roof, where cars once pulled up. I can imagine the "ding" sound, followed by the voice of the driver announcing, "Fill 'er up!" Crowded at 1 We stepped inside and found a hopping diner.  We were offered a small table, but said we were in no hurry. Which wasn't exactly true. We were starved.  There was an energetic, positive vibe to the place. The staff (all in pink shirts) moved about efficiently, taking and delivering orders. Lots of cheerful banter. Stools and Gas Pumps If we'd been a smaller group, eating at the counter would have been fun. I could have swirled around on my stool and purchased some gum-balls from the gas pump machines.
The diners seemed as upbeat as the staff. We've met a lot of Route 66 travelers over the years and most seem enthused. Many Rt 66 fans come from other countries and we heard a couple different languages nearby. Was that German we heard from a crowded booth? The family was squeezed happily around the table, playing cards as they waited for food. Booth Time We didn't have to wait long for our booth. Once we got our legs situated under the table, we took in the show.  Our table opened towards a bustle of activity that was quite entertaining. Elvis and Marilyn We were amused by the giant celebs, smiling across from us... near the entrance to the restrooms.  When did these 2 become symbols, for all the cafes and shops that decorate with a retro '50s theme? Did they ever meet? Marilyn was 9 years older and the 2 supposedly met briefly only once, in 1960. They were in a hall at Paramount.  Of course there's another rumor, that Elvis denied. Who knows? Anyway, it's funny how their 2 images have been combined over time. I think today if you asked "young folks" to name an iconic Hollywood couple, many would name Elvis & Marilyn. Record-shaped Menu Our server Destiny was chatty and welcoming when she brought our album-shaped menus. There were a dozen burger choices.
One that was 4 pounds! Another was named for Andy Devine, Kingman's most famous resident. (Had to look him up) A character actor, who worked with John Wayne and Roy Rogers. Creamy Caramel Root beer Homemade root beer is one of the things that Mr. D'z is known for. We made sure to get some!  Charlie toasted with her water. At age 2, she didn't yet know what she was missing! Order Up! I kept my eye on the little warming window. Good smells were coming from the kitchen.  I'm not sure which dishes used old family recipes. Supposedly the menu includes some recipes that came from Roy and Scott's mom. Dinner Salad at the Diner Salad isn't exactly a diner food. But my retro plate, with greens, veggies and good old 1,000 island dressing, was pretty tasty. Something healthy to go along with root beer, burger & fries.  Elvis kept an eye on Don and little Charlie kept an eye on the big knife, when Don's food was served.  Don's bacon cheeseburger wasn't served on retro china. Instead a guitar-shaped basket held his burger and fries.  Pretty yummy actually. I kind of liked the space age designs on the table, too! Hit the Road Time No complaints about food or service. Destiny and all the servers seemed well trained in dealing with crowds of tourists.  It was a fun stop for lunch, on the old Mother Road. It was nice to take a break in an upbeat atmosphere. Decent restrooms as well! Charlie's good behavior was rewarded with a little outside time, before she crawled back into her carseat.  Too bad we couldn't have given her a quick ride in the odd pink car. I wonder what the story is with that? Elvis Again Charlie had a fun time crawling over a few picnic tables, near the entrance to Mr. D'z Pizza. The little pizza parlor section of the diner, is where garage door once opened to the service station.  Luckily Charlie was a little too young to care about Elvis and his middle finger gesture... beneath "2020 Lockdown". I'm sure the diner suffered during the pandemic, but I wasn't sure I wanted to think too much about this message. Biker Shop It was an odd ending to our fun little dining adventure, when I spotted the yellow building near the parking lot.  The bright place seemed eager to attract bikers traveling 66. A yellow sign on the yellow building told us, "No Mask, No Vax, No Problem. You're welcome. Come on in."
Oh my. We didn't. Lunch in June 2023 I'd never heard of Tulelake and I'd never heard of Mike & Wanda's.  But nearly 2 years ago, Don and I somehow found ourselves in the town of less than 1,000 people, at a restaurant that had a homey-western look. Wide Street It was about noon, when we pulled up to Mike & Wanda's, on Modoc Avenue. The street was wide and the wood covered building, seemed to cover the whole block.  There were 3 door options. We passed the door with bars... that said BAR. The door beneath the Restaurant/Lounge sign, said No Trespassing. The last door had a less welcoming sign, but it opened to the cafe. More Wood Right away, I liked the place. Lots of knotty pine!  There were cozy booths, tables and counter seating. Endless Counter The long wooden bar looked as endless and exaggerated as the long wooden building facing the street.  I counted 8 stools at the "bar". The bottles behind the counter had no liquor. They were bottles of flavored syrups. It was summertime and fun to watch 3 kids being served ice cream cones. They looked like they'd just stopped in, on the way to the park across the street.  The woman serving the kids assured us she'd be right with us. But I was in no hurry. I was having fun examining the walls and the framed artwork critters. Entertaining Pine The wood paneling had a lot going on. It was fun to spot all the various cattle brands, here and there.  I'm not sure what kind of pine this was. A very hole-y cypress? But the deep grooves and circular knots, made my imagination run wild. Oh if I'd had a Sharpie and dared. I could have created the best cartoons. This and That I also enjoyed a few decorator accents. A pump/chicken salt & pepper holder!  A vintage radio was wearing a hat, on the back counter. Sweet Critters And I was so curious about the primitive animal paintings, displayed on the walls.  There must have been some story about the artist. Local? Reading and Listening Don and I took a while to study the M & W menu, while the woman who had served the ice cream, tended to tables.  I did a little eavesdropping. A group of men behind Don seemed to be taking a break from working on a ranch. An elderly couple in a booth chatted with the "Ice Cream Woman", who graciously took her time with them, even though she clearly was working the entire restaurant herself. Other Rooms Our room seemed to be quiet, compared to the noise I heard coming from a nearby doorway. Lots of laughter. A party?  After we placed our order I went exploring and found the Rotary Club Room. No one there. The Bar I stepped into the bar and spotted at least 5 deer heads and 6 men in various hats.  But they weren't making noise. They were all focused on the TV while they ate. Busy Server I found another room with 2 private groups. The ice cream serving woman was rushing to serve one large group. There was a lot of laughter and teasing, yet the woman was professional and efficient. I chose not to intrude with my camera and returned to find my salad waiting.  My 5-dollar side salad was actually pretty tasty. I felt a little guilty not ordering more, but I knew I'd be helping Don... Don ordered a tuna melt, which came with fries and dipping sauce.  I was a good helper and ate about half those yummy fries. The sandwich was pretty darn good and nice and hot. Checking Out After finishing our meal, we finally had a moment to chat with the woman we'd watched serving and busing and even tending to a young barefoot daughter, who came in looking for a toy behind the counter.  As we paid up at the counter, I told her I'd watched her juggling so many customers during our lunch visit. She laughed with good humor, that she was indeed understaffed that day. I then asked who was behind the name of the restaurant. "My parents." She answered with a funny smile. "My dad died a couple years ago and my mom has Alzheimer's. And here I am." She added that they'd had the business for over 40 years. Then she laughed again, "They could have just left me a lake house." Ice Cream to Go I never got the name of the very hardworking and gracious woman who now owns the business. But I did get to tell her how much we enjoyed the food and appreciated her service. I told her I'd watched her serving the kids ice cream and it had made me nostalgic for a good old fashioned cone.  She lit up with enthusiasm when I ordered a cone. "We just got the machine! It seems to be a big hit!" Ice Cream We stepped outside and I enjoyed my cone while wandering over to the little park across the street. Hearing the young woman talk about her parents made me pull out my cellphone one more time.  I snapped a photo of the street and water tower, then dialed up my 94 year old Dad. He answered on his landline back in Missouri. "Hi Dad. I'm having an ice cream cone right now, in the town of Tulelake..."
We had a nice chat. Lunch Stop in the City Don and I were passing through Albuquerque in June of 2023.  I searched the map for a restaurant not far from our route. Cecilia's promised to serve up authentic New Mexican cuisine. I called to make sure they were open and was told, "We're open, but we close at 1:00." Odd closing time! Sweet Exterior We arrived at 12:30 and parked near the inviting cafe entrance. White stucco, red awnings and Madonna in the window. I hoped she would keep our car safe.  Always a risk parking in unknown areas, when on a roadtrip with a car full of stuff. More Madonna & Balloons If the Madonna under the awning couldn't protect, maybe the one painted in the alcove could.  I had to stop and admire the window beneath the other awning. Oh how I've always wanted to attend Albuquerque's annual Balloon Festival! City Corner Before we stepped inside, I had to marvel that we'd found ourselves at a homey cafe, near downtown Albuquerque.  The white 2-story building on the corner of Silver and 6th, was dwarfed by the taller city buildings. Evidently this was built as a house, over 100 years ago. Cozy Cluttered We climbed a couple of steps and opened the screen door. What a surprise! The little space was packed with decorative goodies and quite a few diners.  A young guy looked up when we entered. He nodded and gestured towards an available booth. Holy Treasures We sat across from a very decorated corner. I spotted St. Frances and a few more Madonnas.  Two cherubs and a Jesus figure in a clock, beside a ceramic Christmas tree. Guy Another corner made me grin a bit.  Guy Fieri and his signature smile and sunglasses, looked down from a signed poster. Cecilia's was featured on his show in 2009. Studying The young man brought menus. I studied the walls more than I did the menu.  The wooden sign gave us a heads up about Great food & atmasphere. I noticed the red and green chilis, beside the words, "unpredictable chile fix". Awards I noticed a lot of Christmas decor. A Christmas tree here, a wreath there...  ... a manger display. And lots of awards. "Best Downtown House Turned Restaurant" That's an interesting award. Made me wonder how many house turned restaurants there are in Albuquerque? Our View I liked our booth, with a view of the dining room. We could see the the exposed brick around a window. I tried to imagine the old brick house, beneath the white stucco.  I could see 3 in the kitchen rushing about. The woman in the red shirt appeared stressed. I guessed she was the one on the phone who wanted me to know they'd be closing that day at 1. San Pascual Arrived 1999 There was a lot of wall decor near the opening to the kitchen. The most curious piece of art, was a crude little painting of a man in a monk's robe, holding a spoon.
The image was of San Pascual, the patron saint of cooks and kitchens. I learned later, that the mysterious little painted board was found on the cafe's stoop, on the first day that Cecilia's opened, in 1999. Fireman's 10 Pound Burrito! Before deciding on our order, we took a moment to ponder the Fireman's Burrito option. Sadly, we did not hear the bell ring during our visit.  The busy woman in the red shirt came to take our order. I didn't attempt to chuckle about the 10-pound burrito. Her focus seemed to be everywhere but our table, as she waited to hear our order. I asked which was hotter, red or green sauce? I got a quick answer. "Both." Tamales Don attempted to order chicken tamales but was told they only had pork.  He was fine with pork tamales. Sadly he was not fine with the heat. He's become less tolerant of hot spicy foods over the years, but usually he can attempt more than 1 bite. He played it safe (traveling!) and just ate his beans and rice. He raved about the beans, though. Stuffed Sopaipilla I was pretty excited about my fry bread, stuffed with beans, beef, cheese, onions and lettuce. My meal was hot as well, but such flavors!  Don was able eat a little of mine. I offered up my beans and rice to him. We actually were both satisfied.  As we worked on our food, the last customers sat down. Just before the Closed sign went in the door. We overheard the woman in red telling them that it had been a rough day. A pipe broke and the bathroom was closed. Yikes. Meeting Cecilia I had not expected to have a chat with the woman in red. But after she took the last order, a weight seemed to lift. She came over and apologized for being so rushed. She seemed so pleased that we'd enjoyed her food. (I couldn't bring myself to tell her it was too hot for Don)  I asked if she was by any chance The Cecilia, of Cecilia's. She laughed that she was. We asked about her experience with Guy Fieri and she shook her head. "Whew! Our business was crazy after that! There were lines down the sidewalk." She talked about the struggles after the pandemic. "We can't get people to work," She looked at the now half empty dining room and said business was so much slower now. A Good Visit Even with spicy food and no bathroom options, we were glad we'd had a visit to the little cafe. It was a treat absorbing the atmosphere, with Cecilia's precious collections.  I wish we could go back and enjoy another meal. Cecilia might be able to suggest a milder dish for Don. But sadly, I looked up Cecilia's today. It looks like the cafe closed its doors, October 2024. Too many struggles, trying to keep the business running, since the pandemic. Sad.
But, I read that Cecilia may have a food truck somewhere! Maybe there will be a next time! |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
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