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No Clowns No Elephants Don and I have dined at a few silly circus-themed restaurants over the years. This past April at Ringling Grillroom, they had no colorful clown or tent decorations.  Instead we had a lovely lunch with a more sophisticated circus focus. The cafe was on the property once owned by the famous circus magnate, John Ringling. Our dining adventure included lots of exploring before and after our meal. Touring the Ringling Property We started working up an appetite in the morning, while touring the incredible 66-acre Ringling estate property.  I was as giddy as a kid going to the circus, when we walked through this entrance to buy tickets. My kid-like exuberance had to do with my memories of exploring the Ringling Property with my siblings, in the '60s & '70s. Bayside Property Our family spent quite a bit of time in Sarasota. Mostly summers. Dad directed plays at the historic Asolo Theatre, which was on the magical Ringling property, sitting beside Sarasota Bay.  I found this photo in an old brochure. The aerial view of the estate shows the 4 areas I remember. Art museum, theatre, Ringling mansion and circus museum. Ca'd'Zan, the Ringling Mansion I was eager to show Don the splendid 56-room winter retreat that John and Mable Ringling built in the Roaring Twenties. I fondly recall going through the rooms of this Venetian Gothic mansion as a kid. I had never been in a mansion before and my imagination went wild. If I lived here, where would I sleep? Would I have servants? Could I fish in the bay? When Don and I visited, it was as grand as I remembered. The Circus & Art Museums After the mansion Don and I roamed through the buildings that make up the Ringling Museums. The exhibits that feature circus history, are housed in 2 buildings now.  As an adult it's pretty fascinating trying to wrap your head around the idea of a circus empire that involved nearly 2,000 people. The history is amazing. As a kid these exhibits inspired my imagination and a few backyard circuses with neighborhood kids. A visit to the Ringling Art Museum was also a must. The 21-gallery museum was established in 1927, by John & Mable Ringling.  I remember being 11 and wandering inside the pink palace, with rooms that held paintings bigger than my bedroom. Just a year later, I toured the museum again, with wiser eyes. Our family had just returned from 6 months in Italy, so I'd experienced a lot of impressive museums. But it only made me appreciate the Ringling galleries much more! Bayfront Gardens During our visit in April, the weather was ideal. Exploring the grounds was as satisfying as visiting the mansion and museums. We found the Dwarf Gardens and the Ringling cemetery. We strolled on paths through clusters of enormous banyan trees. I spent a moment in Mable's Rose Garden and recognized the little gazebo, where I once sat with childhood friends. There must be 100 statues on the property, but Don and I weren't able to find the mythical character with the tail... that I recall from nearly 60 years ago. My brothers and I came upon it one day in 1968, while exploring the property, while Dad was in rehearsal. My very convincing older brother explained to his younger siblings that we too were born with tails and they'd been cut off at birth. We believed him! Hungry By 1:00 our feet were tired and stomachs were empty. If only the old Banyan Cafe had been open. The curious looking cafe was designed by William Rupp in 1961. It's now being restored.  I was pretty excited to find the Ringling Grillroom in the Visitor's Pavilion, which was built about 20 years ago.  The hostess said we didn't need reservations since it was fairly quiet that afternoon. She said the cafe can get pretty packed, before and after Asolo Repertory Theatre shows.  There were a few inside tables available. The small bar had seating as well. Outside Dining Don and I asked to be seated on the outside terrace if possible.  There was a nice view of the entrance to the main circus museum building.  We watched a group of school kids exiting and felt lucky we'd toured earlier. It had been peaceful in the museums, earlier. Menu Options There was no circus decor in the restaurant, but there were some fun nods to the old circus world, in the menu.  I was surprised that prices were so reasonable. G-Room Salad I didn't see any popcorn or peanuts, so I ordered the "G-Room Salad". G-Room is the nickname for Grillroom, but it took me a moment to figure that out.  My salad was good enough to be named after the restaurant! The spiced toasted seeds, crumbled feta Granny Smith apples and crisp veggies made it a refreshing choice. It really was perfect! Bigger and tastier than my photo. Don's Grilled Chicken Panini was thick and hearty. I stole many of his tasty fries!  After finishing, we had time to chat with our server quite a bit. I asked what she knew about the Asolo Theatre. She knew the 18th century theatre was dismantled in Italy and moved to the property in 1951. She said in 2006 it was moved again. I was confused to realize the gorgeous U-shaped "jewel-box theatre" was inside the 20-year-old Visitor's Pavilion. Late '60s We gabbed a bit and I shared briefly about my memories of the theatre, going back to 1968. I didn't force our kind server to listen to anymore rambling. I didn't tell her that I was obsessed with my memories and still had old programs and brochures in boxes back home.  I didn't mention that the first Asolo play my dad directed was the Greek Tragedy Antigone, done in modern times with Neru jackets! I could have mentioned that I recently studied the program and found the name Paul Rubenfeld. Evidenly young Paul played the part of a page. He was a teenager then and just an apprentice at Asolo. That was long before he became "PeeWee Herman". Closed Instead of boring our server I just asked where the entrance to the theatre was. She gave directions but wasn't hopeful that I could get inside. The door was indeed locked.  Rats! We paused a moment and I studied a curious poster next to the door. An animated fellow named Luciano Rosso was evidently opening in 2 days. Just then I heard the door handle rattle. Out came a woman carrying a broom and cleaning supplies. She spoke little English and I probably spoke too fast. I tried to explain why I was so eager to peek inside. She seemed somewhat amused and also a little worried... something about not having the authority.  "I'll be so quick!" I begged. She let me in and waited for me. There were 2 men working on the stage and they likely saw me as I snapped 2 photos. I stood for less than a minute, but absorbed the charm and recalled my thrill at sitting in those box seats. I headed back out, where my dear lady was waiting.  As I thanked her, the door opened and a man walked out. Before registering his concern (or lack of) I began to do the talking. I questioned what was going on in there, as if I was some kind of amateur reporter. He laughed and pointed to the poster. "Prepping for a show." he answered. My eyes went from the poster to the man and I concluded. "Is that you?" His eyebrows went up and he laughed again, claiming he wasn't Luciano. The ice was broken and we got to chat a bit. I felt free to babble about childhood memories. When he mentioned that he was from Sarasota, I wanted to talk for days. What it was like to grow up in "Circus Town" where public school offers classes in circus arts? But it was time to move on. I thanked the man and the very kind woman and we were on our way... after a quick trip to the gift shop.
What a fun and nostalgic dining adventure!
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At Last I love pancakes and I love a circus theme. I've had my eye on this place since we first visited Sac, 9 years ago.  The Sacramento restaurant has been serving food on Broadway since 1961, although there were no clowns and maybe no pancakes then. It became Pancake Circus in the 1970s. Monday in May Don and I parked in the lot on a Monday morning in May.  The sign said breakfast anytime. It was 8:30. Could I order steak and seafood anytime? We passed a colorful window with clown art.  We were early enough for the Early Bird Special.
The steaming pancake art tempted me. The devil-moon and the fork-eating clown sort of scared me. But a smiling clown greeted us inside.  We did as the sign politely asked. We waited for just a brief moment near the cashier's counter, filled with clown figurines.  There were also framed clowns on the wall and clowns dangling from balloons and a parachute. Luckily Don and I are not freaked out by clowns. Many are. Seating There were 3 seating areas. 140 seats I believe.  Don and I were seated in a booth near the window. There were about a dozen coffee colored booths that matched the dark woodwork. There was a room in the back, with seating. A perfect place for a pancake party! Which I've never thought about having before.  From the "party room" I had a good view of the jolly light fixtures, that I wish I'd captured in a closeup. The gold and green circus tent shapes, looked so 1970s. The far out fixtures almost looked like something Marcia, Jan & Cindy Brady might have had in their TV bedroom. It was tempting to ask for a seat at the counter.  There were over a dozen cushioned stools. All seats had nice views of the curious cut-out animals. Was that smiling orange bear, Winnie the Pooh? Was that a Tigger, with the yellow face and big nose? The lion I didn't recognize. Mouthwatering Wallpaper We had a window view, but some tables had a view of pancake wallpaper!
It was a refreshing treat to see a spotlight on pancakes, in this dining room full of circus. Cecilia Our server Cecilia was friendly and efficient and she kept our coffee cups filled.  Since she'd been working at Pancake Circus for 17 years, I had a special question for her. How Many Clowns? I wondered if anyone had any idea how many clowns were displayed at Pancake Circus.  Cecilia didn't know, so I went for another question. "Have you ever served a clown here?" She laughed and said a group of costumed clowns used to come in now and then. She gestured towards the space I'd decided was a party room and said that's where they'd sit. I loved picturing that! Food Don and I seemed to be the only guests who even looked at their menu. The diners we observed all seemed to know what they were going to order before arriving.
There were options for "seniors" on the menu, so Don and I embraced our ages and enjoyed.  Don was pleased with his fried egg, potatoes and sausage. I ordered pancakes and scrambled eggs, with crispy bacon. $7.99!  I don't have Influencer Skills or I would have arranged my bacon and poured my syrup over melting butter. My photo does not look nearly as good as it tasted. I was honestly surprised, since reviews had been mixed. This was a tasty, hot choice! Wandering After enjoying our food, I wandered a bit to snap some pics.  I know that clowns are not everyone's favorite, but I appreciated the endless collection.  I wish I knew more about how these circus decorations had been acquired. I did read somewhere that many diners have added to the collection over the years.  Much of the decor is kitschy. But there's fun in that.  I actually liked this artwork that showed the restaurant.  I know the business has changed hands over the years, so I'm even more surprised that the no one has disrupted this little time capsule.  Yay for keeping the theme and serving up a decent morning meal! Late Night Pancakes? We headed out and I snapped an odd photo of the neon letters, just as the sun broke through.  It made me want to come at night and see the letters glowing. Sadly they are no longer open at night, but I drove by late one evening. A couple letters needed to be fixed, but the CIRCUS word was nice and bright!  Maybe I'll start up a fundraiser to fix the sign!
Just Off the Tracks I love a train-themed dining adventure! This restaurant near the eastern border of New Mexico, is housed in an old train station. It sits just 30 feet from the tracks.  Don and I dined at The Rails in July 2024, but we discovered the station about 6 years before. Clovis Depot This is how the train station looked in 2019, when Don and I passed through the small city on a road trip. There was no restaurant then.  The place was vacant and surrounded in fencing. The depot had closed 20 years before. Little did we know, the station had been purchased and good things were ahead. The Gran Quivera Harvey House Hotel On the same visit, Don and I walked a little further down the tracks and found a building in worse shape.   This had once been a Harvey House restaurant and hotel. In the early 1900s, this building would have been lively with rail travelers. Harvey Girls in their starched aprons, would have been bustling about, serving meals. The hotel closed in 1948. A Train! It was a bit sad seeing the boarded up building. It felt like a ghost town, until we heard a sound.  Suddenly there was life on the tracks! Across from the weary buildings, a train rumbled by! Big improvements! 3 years later, we stopped again while on a road trip! The depot looked different in 2022.  The barbed wire fencing was gone. The building had the original colors, but the paint looked fresh. Almost Ready We found a door and peeked inside and suddenly realized we were interrupting some kind of meeting. The nice folks halted their discussion and started up a new one, with us.  One gentleman (who could have been one of the owners) was eager to let us know the renovation was complete and The Rails restaurant would soon be opening.  They seemed surprised that a couple from Texas had stopped to check on the historic station. We told them we were big fans of old railroads and often detoured to see historic depots. We'd stayed at a few renovated Harvey House hotels, in the west.  They welcomed us to to look around and I quickly imagined us in the future, stopping for a meal on a road trip. I was excited to find patio seating in front...  ...and in back. Perfect for counting cars, like I did as a kid. June 2024 Two years later, Don and I planned another road trip and booked a night at a chain hotel in Clovis. If only the old Harvey House had been renovated, we could have stayed there and walked to dinner.  We arrived on a Wednesday evening and parked near a row of arches. Thick shades covered the rounded openings, giving no hint of the covered patio behind them. Old Equipment We headed for the depot entrance, taking a peek at some displayed goodies, rescued from the old railroad days.  I'm not sure how that yellow thing on wheels was once used, but I'm sure there are plenty of train enthusiasts today who might be happy to sit a spell and explain it.  I was amused imagining how this crazy bike was used on the tracks. I was tempted to climb on the crooked seat, for a look-at-me photo pose. But, I was reminded of a childhood memory of getting stitches and a tetanus shot, after trying to stand up on a rusty tricycle. More Historic Items Once inside, I noticed a display case filled with artifacts, inherited from the museum that lived in the station after it closed.  My eyes were drawn to the white dinner china, with red designs. The dishes were once used to serve diners at the nearby Harvey House hotel. Rustic-Modern Bar We arrived a half hour before our reservation, to make sure we had time to sit in the cozy bar, tucked at the end of the building.  We passed through an arched opening, and found the corner bar and a few high top tables. Reminders of Depot Days The space was empty at 5:30, so I snapped a few photos. I could picture giant luggage carts passing through the hefty sliding door, that opened to the tracks.  I looked down to see I was standing on a wood platform of some kind. The bartender said it had once held a scale. I imagined cargo and travel trunks being weighed before loading. Window View Don and I sat in a cozy space between the bar and a small dining room. We had a great window view with lots of train activity.
Besides trains, we studied railroad related photos, displayed on the walls. I also enjoyed studying the arched doorway, with all its dings and missing chunks. Many coats of paint over the years softened those blemishes, made by hurried cart and equipment movement... I presume. Another View My seat also gave me a good view into the adjoining room, which (along with the bar) had begun to fill up. There was such a pleasant, friendly vibe with staff and customers.  Many guests greeted one other. It was easy to conclude that this was a favorite go-to place for locals. Later I learned the owners were dining. So that added to the fun. Favorite Room I remembered seeing this particular dining room, when we visited in '22. It was a little cozier and I loved the arched windows with blue trim. Two of the window tables were occupied by the time we were ready to be seated for dinner.  When checking in with the hostess, we happened to meet the beverage manager, Maribeth Delgado. She was delighted that we'd come from TX to dine. It was tricky explaining how we'd grown fond of this depot from roadtrips. Maribeth graciously assured us we'd get a great table. New Table Don and I were thrilled to get that third table, next to a window. It looked like a million layers of paint covered the frame and hardware. Don's shirt almost matched. Our server Cole, arrived with menus and a warm smile. Also warm ciabatta bread. Perfect!
The Smooth Jazz we'd noticed before was suddenly drowned out by sounds of energetic voices. There was a constant flow of diners arriving and departing. (Just like travelers back in the day) One table with men in cowboy hats, was suddenly replaced by a lively group that looked like they'd just come from a golf course. Fun people watching. The outside activity was just as entertaining. So were the outside sounds. Trains! There was constant movement out there, on about 8-10 sets of tracks. The Menu The menu looked amazing. Especially for a restaurant in a community, surrounded by farmland. But I'd read great reviews, about the French trained chefs. I knew we'd be eating food that would feel like we were dining in a big city.  There were lots of choices, from rib-eyes & burgers, to a butter chicken curry and Turkish baklava! Butter Chicken & Fettuccini I ordered Butter Chicken Curry, with Cashew Nut Marsala & Basmati Rice. We have some of the best curry, living in the Houston area. My dish was outstanding. The gigantic naan, was an added treat, for this bread lover!  Don had Fettuccini Michelangelo (Pork & Ribeye Bolognaise prepared in-house) It was thick and rich... almost like the best of stroganoffs.  I did not mention that comparison when restaurant manager Kailash Jugessur stopped by the table to ask how we were enjoying the meal. I adore a good stroganoff, but many wouldn't see that as a huge compliment. Kailash seemed so pleased that we were enjoying the food and the service. Exploring After finishing, I slipped off to explore for a moment. The larger dining rooms were filled with families and a few larger groups.  I walked to the far end of the building and found another display. This one had a collection of model train engines. Sounds Near the Tracks I stepped out a back door to have a quick look at the tracks. I listened for a while. There was more hissing than horn whistling.  A moment later, I stepped into the Ladies Room and suddenly I was listening to hear my favorite sounds. Speakers had been installed to play a very realistic recording of a train approaching. Bells clanging... train whistling...rumbling... hissing! Just perfect! Meeting Libby & Tate We were just getting ready to leave our table, when a young woman from a nearby table spoke to Don. She wanted to know if we were just passing through town.  Libby introduced herself, along with her husband, Tate. After chatting a bit, we learned that Tate & Libby (along with and Tate's brother, Jordan) were the owners of The Rails. Here they were, casually dining and visiting with locals and welcoming travelers like us.  We stood and chatted for quite a while. They wanted to know if we'd had any issues with Hurricane Beryl, which had recently hit Texas. We wanted to know what it had been like to take on this daunting task of refurbishing a building, then creating an upscale restaurant. Evening in Clovis By the time we stepped outside, the July heat had cooled and a warm breeze made wandering pleasant. I spotted the moon rising over the tip of the depot roof. 
I wanted to walk out near tracks to see the station, lit with strings of lights. But the tracks are no longer accessible to wanderers, like they were a few years ago. We couldn't check on the old Harvey house, but I believe it's still vacant. 1906 Locomotive Instead we walked just a few steps to First Street, where an old locomotive was displayed in a tiny park.  We sat on a bench for a moment and talked about the evening.
The evening had been better than expected. We'd had some amazing food in a relaxed atmosphere, where we'd been welcomed by the owners and friendly staff. We'd watched lively locals. Best of all we'd enjoyed it all, while sitting inside an old depot, watching trains come and go. Hard to beat! Mother's Day Lunch in Gila Bend, AZ You have to love the name of this restaurant.
And you have to appreciate the name of this town as well! Why Did We Go? This was not exactly a Destination Mother's Day Celebration. We were on our way from Alpine, CA to Tucson, AZ.  It happened to be Mother's Day, which meant I got a little extra say so in where we stopped for lunch. How could I resist this 1960's diner, with the sparkly white paint job. The blue tiles had glittery sparkles, too. Wish my photo could have captured it. Where is Everyone? It was sort of a bad sign that the place wasn't packed on Mother's Day. There was nowhere else do go in Gila Bend and who wouldn't want to bring their mom here?
I had to grin when I walked inside. The modern spotlights were aimed at the colorful space mural and the counter stools were right out of the Jetson's cartoon show. The white dots on the shiny black floor made me feel like I was looking down into outerspace! The Menu We were given menus right away.
I admired the friendly cover, with a very exciting image of a flying saucer/coffee cup. The History Inside the menu there was a write up about the history of the Space Age Restaurant and Motel, built in 1964. (postcard image from the internet) The futuristic design was created by Al Stovall, who at that time was affiliated with the newly founded Space program.  He owned a plastic factory among other things and was able to use factory materials to create some of the unique features, like satellite replicas on the roof. Mr. Stovall passed away in the '70s, but his family is still involved in ownership. The restaurant was rebuilt after a fire in 1998, so sadly some of the truly retro features are missing. Food We were starved, so ordered quickly.
Don's hamburger didn't look terribly exciting, but the space age china that the burger sat upon, made up for that. Do make note of the etched glass behind Don. Planets and Spaceship! Another Room I made sure to order a salad bar with my tuna sandwich and chili. That meant I got to go into another room with more wall art. Painted Rockets and astronauts, saucer style lamps, dramatic blue ceiling with dangling planets!  This shouldn't impress me since Houston's Space Center, is a 45 minute drive from my home. But it all seemed hysterically fun, out in the middle of nowhere, in Arizona! My Dish You can tell by the unmelted cheese that my chili was not served piping hot. Our server was kind enough to give it a little zap in the microwave, when I asked.  It still was only lukewarm, but I enjoyed my flying saucer plate so much that I hardly cared. Time to Go I'm glad we didn't drive 2 hours (or 2 days) just for Mother's Day Brunch, because our dining adventure was over in about 30 minutes.  Which was just fine since we needed to get on the road. I wish we'd had time to stop in the motel lobby before departing. The lobby is underneath the saucer-like structure to the left! My Purchase I did make a fine purchase from the diner gift shop.
This very awesome Space Age mug is my most favorite coffee mug these days. I made sure to capture its image on some reflective foil to add some excitement to the photo. When We Return Don and I realize we may not have hit the restaurant on the best of days.
I have a feeling the people of Gila Bend were doing what all families should do on Mother's Day. They were home celebrating with Mom. So we'll just have to return another time and maybe even stay at the Space Age Lodge!
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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
August 2026
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