101 Cafe Oceanside, CA Photo courtesy Jimmy Bowman A coffee cup and pointed red arrow help steer hungry travelers toward the 101 Cafe in Oceanside. The roadside marquee has a little of that old cruisin' flavor, while the painted mural along the side wall gives passersby another reason to slow down for a look. 03-05 The cafe dates back to 1928, when the operation was a much smaller affair with 20 stools and a single coffee urn. A dining room expansion followed in the 1930s, and curb service arrived in the early 1940s. With Camp Pendleton opening nearby in 1942, there were soon plenty of additional appetites to feed.   101 Cafe new mural Oceanside, CA Photo courtesy John Daley Over the years, the restaurant carried names including Graham's Drive-In, Jimmy's, and Randy's Coffee Shop before returning to the 101 Cafe name in 1996. Quite a few changes for a place where a cup of coffee and a seat at the counter have long been part of the attraction. UPDATE: The 101 Cafe was originally opened in 1928. It was last remodeled as a drive-in in 1954. It has the drive-in look and feel. The photo is from our Photo Day promotion where people bring their cars in and we photograph them.  In the last two years, we have had over three hundred cars. Many thanks to John Daley, Owner/Partner of the 101 Cafe for info. 12-06   101 Cafe new mural Oceanside, CA Photo courtesy John Daley UPDATE: The photo of our mural is out of date as it was replaced it after a car crashed into our building a few years ago.  The 101 Cafe also celebrates its 80th birthday next year.  It is pretty cool that this Icon still stands considering our community has grown from less than 10,000 to over 180,000.  The cruise along the 101 through Oceanside is a flashback in time. Many thanks to John Daley, Owner/Partner of the 101 Cafe for info. 01-08 UPDATE: The 101 Cafe remains open for breakfast and lunch. Its familiar coffee cup and arrow sign survives, along with the painted roadside mural. 10-26   101 Cafe in 1935 Oceanside, CA Photo courtesy John Daley 101 Cafe in 1954 Oceanside, CA Photo courtesy John Daley

Night & Day Cafe
San Diego, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Along Orange Avenue in Coronado, the Night & Day Cafe offers a familiar stop for something hot off the grill. Its projecting neon marquee fits right in with the compact counter diner below. The name alone sounds like an invitation to pull up a stool whenever hunger happens to strike.

The cafe traces its beginnings to 1927, when it opened two doors away as the D and D Cafe. Paul Zeller relocated and remodeled the business in 1954, giving it the Night & Day name. That puts its history a little further back than the old guess of the 1930s or 1940s.

Inside, the counter and flat-top grill keep the diner tradition close at hand. The Esquer family has operated the cafe since 1996, serving American diner favorites alongside Mexican dishes. Plenty of possibilities for a place with so little room between the cooking and the customers.

UPDATE: The Night & Day Cafe remains open, and its neon marquee survives. The cafe no longer operates around the clock, although late-night weekend service keeps some of the old night-owl tradition going. 10-26

Bessie's Cafe (Gone)
Oceanside, CA
Photo courtesy M.C. Morrissey

Sometimes a simple marquee does the trick. Here in Oceanside, Bessie's Cafe greeted passersby with a modest sign that had its own roadside charm. No towering arrow needed to get the name across.

Known more fully as Bessie's 1929 Cafe, the restaurant carried the vintage theme indoors. Black-and-white silent movies played on the wall while customers worked their way through generous plates of diner food. A little entertainment to go along with the meal, with no need to hear the dialogue over the clatter of dishes.

The cafe occupied a downtown storefront along South Coast Highway, adding another breakfast stop to the old coastal route. Between the movies, the meals, and the marquee outside, there was more to take in than the menu.

UPDATE: Bessie's Cafe has closed, and its exterior marquee has been removed. 10-26