Fresh Pond Cafeteria (Closed) Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Here's the marquee for theFresh Pond Cafeteria, long out of business.
And no wonder – would you eat at a place called the Fresh Pond?
Maybe as a frog. Many thanks to Dave van Hulsteyn for info.
Heading toward Tahoe on Highway 50, travelers once stopped at Fresh Pond Cafeteria for a meal, a stretch, and perhaps a hot doughnut. Buses pulled in here, too, giving passengers a break before the road climbed into the mountains.
UPDATE: The Fresh Pond cafeteria
was named for a local landmark. The Greyhound busses always had this as
a pit stop between South Lake Tahoe and points towards the SFO Bay Area,
at least in the 60's and 70's. The food was actually pretty good. Seems
that once the buses quit stopping there, it folded. The sign may now be
gone. It used to be quite busy when the buses pulled in. Many
thanks to John from Carson City for update. 04-05
UPDATE: The cafeteria burned down in the 1970s. Its wooden sign stood for years afterward, though whether it survives today is uncertain. 09-26
Trails (Closed)
Sacramento, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Just south of Broadway in Sacramento, The Trails looked like a little roadside stop with a story to tell. Its sign, shaped like a rough wooden plank, fit the western theme. Inside, there were steaks and, in later years, barbecue worth pulling over for.
Trails opened in 1952 as a venture by movie star and swimmer Esther Williams and her husband, Ben Gage. Their plans for a chain didn't last, but the Sacramento restaurant did. The Wong family later ran it for decades, making it a familiar neighborhood place for ribs, steaks, and a meal near the Tower District.
UPDATE: Trails closed in 2014 after more than 60 years. Its roadside sign survived the restaurant, leaving a reminder of the little western-themed joint on 21st Street. 09-26
Tad's Steaks
San Francisco, CA Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
Here's Tad's Steaks all lit up on Powell Street in San Francisco. The neon was hard to miss near Union Square, especially for anyone coming off the cable car and wondering where to find dinner. It made a fine promise: steak without much fuss.
Tad's opened at this spot in 1955. Customers ordered at the counter, then carried their steaks, baked potatoes, and garlic bread to a table on a tray. It was a simple routine, and the glowing sign outside made sure people knew where to find it.
The Powell Street restaurant closed in 2019 when Tad's lost its lease, but that wasn't the end of the steak dinners. The business moved around the corner, taking its familiar sign along for the trip.
UPDATE: Tad's is still open on Ellis Street, with the old neon sign at its new home. This photo catches it glowing over Powell Street, back when a short walk from the cable car led straight to the original doorway. 09-26
Golden Tee Inn Restaurant (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo courtesy John Flores
Here are a couple of shots of the Golden Tee Restaurant & Hotel, located on Auburn Blvd. in Sacramento. The Golden Tee has also been torn down . The demolition crew seems to be having a whole buffet of teardowns lately after tearing down the Lyon's Restaurant on Watt Avenue. Many thanks to John Flores for info. 06-07
Along Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento, Golden Tee Inn offered travelers a place to stop for dinner, a drink, and eventually a room for the night. Its roadside sign made the restaurant easy to spot from the busy street. The name sounded like a golf outing, but a steak dinner was the draw.
Golden Tee Inn Restaurant (Demolished)
Sacramento, CA Photo courtesy John Flores
The Golden Tee opened in the 1960s as a restaurant and cocktail lounge, with motel rooms added later. It became a familiar place for family meals and local gatherings. Regulars remember the prime rib and steak sandwiches, while the more adventurous could order frog legs.
For more than 40 years, the restaurant and its signs were part of the Auburn Boulevard drive. A photograph like this catches the place in its roadside days, before the building and marquee disappeared.
UPDATE: Golden Tee closed in December 2006 and was demolished the following month. Its signs came down with it, leaving these photos as a look back at the old restaurant and inn. 09-26
A & W Restaurant
San Rafael, CA Photo courtesy Heather David
Check out the A & W restaurant in the town of San Rafael, CA. This A&W is located at 3741 Redwood Highway (across from the Marin Civic Center).
A & W was founded in Lodi, California in 1922. By 1960, the company had 2000 restaurants. This A & W in San Rafael has been nicely maintained. Many thanks to Heather David for info. 09-08
This A&W opened in 1973 and has held on to much of its roadside look. The sign sits lower than it once did, but its familiar logo panels remain. There's still a drive-through, too, for anyone who would rather take a burger and root beer back on the road.
A & W Restaurant
San Rafael, CA Photo courtesy Heather David
Better yet, head inside and get the root beer in a frosted glass mug. Some stops deserve more than a quick pass through, especially when the building and sign are part of the attraction.
UPDATE: The San Rafael A&W is still open, with its peaked roof and vintage sign in place. Nearly everyone recognizes the A&W logo, but this location gives you a good reason to look at the building behind it, too. 09-26
Fresh Pond Cafeteria (Closed)
Golden Tee Inn Restaurant (Demolished)
Golden Tee Inn Restaurant (Demolished)
A & W Restaurant
A & W Restaurant
