Route 66 Roadfood

Hi everybody! So we’re planning our big summer roadtrip, a month on Historic Route 66, from mid-July to mid-August. We’d LOVE your help on food recommendations on our route, specifically to help us distinguish the older RF places from the new.  In my initial research, I’ve noticed that many retro-looking restaurants have sprouted alongside Route 66 in order to cash in on the historic highway’s draw, and I can tell you that we’re not really interested in those types of places. Having said that, we’re really in this for the BEST tasting food, though we’ll certainly not discount the older places that may’ve declined in food quality over the years (we all know those places as those that “used to be good”). We remain skeptical but oddly curious of places that advertise that they have “the best (insert food here) in the state” with no indication of who voted. And of course we want to see as many classic Route 66 attractions as possible. We’ll be blogging regularly for Roadfood Digest, and we’d love to meet many RFers along the way, too!

Without further ado, here’s a chronological list of the towns we’ll visit, and we’d love to hear from you about your must-eat suggestions on the Mother Road (and detours, since we have a few worked in)!  Thank you very much!   Chris

Illinois: Cicero, Willowbrook, Romeoville, Joliet, Wilmington, Braidwood, Dwight, Pontiac, Springfield, Litchfield, Mount Olive, Collinsville

Missouri: Saint Louis, Ted Drewe’s (concrete), Hodak’s (fried chicken), Roper Ribs (snoots), Goody Goody (slinger), Park Avenue Coffee (gooey butter cake), Gus’ Pretzel Shop, St. Paul sandwich (Wong’s Inn), Cuba, Rolla, Waynesville, Lebanon, Springfield, Carthage, Joplin

Kansas: Galena, Riverton, Baxter Springs, detour to Pittsburg (Chicken Annie’s or Chicken Mary’s?)

Oklahoma: Quapaw, Commerce, Miami, Vinita (Clanton’s Café), Foyil, Claremore (Will Rogers Memorial), Catoosa (Blue Whale), Tulsa, Bristow (Russ’s Ribs), Stroud (Rock Café), Chandler, Arcadia, detour to Shawnee (Van’s Pig Stand…thoughts?), Oklahoma City (Cattleman’s, Classen Grill, maybe a BBQ place?), El Reno (Robert’s Grill), Clinton (Jiggs Smoke House), Elk City (Billy’s, Country Dove Tea Room), Sayre, Erick
Texas: McLean (Devil’s Rope Museum), Groom (Giant Cross), Amarillo (Big Texan Steak House, Arnold Burger), Vega, Adrian (Midpoint Café), Glenrio

New Mexico: Tucumcari (Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari Mountain Cheese Company), Santa Rosa (Joseph’s), Tinkertown, Las Vegas, Pecos, Santa Fe (Bobcat Bite), Albuquerque (Route 66 Malt Shop), detour: San Antonio (Buckhorn Bar), Pie Town (Pie-O-Neer Café ), Bernalillo (Range Café), Grants, Gallup (El Rancho Motel and Restaurant)

Arizona: Holbrook (Wigwam Village Motel), Joseph City (Jackrabbit Trading Post), Winslow (La Posada Hotel, Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner), Flagstaff (Black Bart’s Steakhouse), detour: Grand Canyon, Williams (Pine Country Restaurant), Seligman (Snow Cap Drive-In), Truxton (Frontier Restaurant), Hackberry (Hackberry General Store), McConnico, Oatman (Oatman Hotel, Olive-Oatman Restaurant)

California: Amboy (Roy’s Café), Newberry Springs (Bagdad Café), Helendale, Cajon Summit (Summit Inn, Rialto’s Wigwam Motel), San Bernardino (McDonald’s Museum), Rancho Cucamonga (Lamplight Inn), LaVerne (Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse), Pomona (Dr. Bob’s Ice Cream), Glendora (Donut Man)

Zeno's Motel and Steakhouse at Exit 184 in Rolla, MO is a good place for lunch/dinner and spend the night too.  There's lodging, fitness center and lounge. 
 
Zeno's Motel and Steakhouse @ 1621 Martin Springs Dr., Rolla, MO 573 - 364 - 1301.
 
http://www.zenos.biz/

Amboy is in California,Roys Cafe is a nice little stop,but you cant eat there.We stopped there twice and bought t shirts but thats about all they had for sale.It may have changed,the last time I was through tere was 2006

Ann's Chicken Fry House at Exit 123B off I 44 in Oklahoma City, OK  is a certified Route 66 special serving good country food.
 
Ann's Chicken Fry House @ 4106 Northwest 39th St., Oklahoma City, OK 405 - 943 - 8915.
 
http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Oklahoma/annschickenfry.htm

All in California:

Amboy (Roy’s Café), Newberry Springs (Bagdad Café), Helendale, Cajon Summit (Summit Inn, Rialto’s Wigwam Motel)

If you have never experienced either Amboy or The Summit Inn at the top of Cajon Pass  Take the Firemans advice an do stop there.  Not many places on Old 66 left that can recall the 'old days'  My Mom had me pee in the outhouse at the Summit Inn when we stopped on our way into L A in 1944. The Plumbing is now indoors, but that's about the only changes since those days.

I have a photo of the Nash Ambassador Police Car parked in front of the Cafe in Amboy. It makes Mayberry look like NYC !! BTW the car has been there for about 40 years!! A few years back you could buy the whole town for a couple of million dollars. However they do rely on the railroad for their domestic water. Delivered in rail tank cars twice a week (from Barstow). That's another historic experience that has disappeared almost everywhere else in the country.

If you go, stay long enough to experience the good things !!

Make sure you think of me when you stop at A Slice of Pie in Rolla, MO.  And it is very convenient off the interstate.

If you have the route mapped out

Route 66 becomes Central Avenue in Albuquerque

Therefore a  stop here
http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/305/frontier

for one of these




And that Route 66 becomes Santa Monica Blvd from hollywood to Santa Monica, and I told you previously it would be an absolute tragedy to pass up...

http://www.roadfood.com/Restaurant/Reviews/6520/california-roll-factory


for some



and

add broome's fried pies to your arcadia oklahoma list. a broome's pie is a thing of light flaky beauty.

I was also going to suggest The Frontier.  When I was there I bought side orders of things so I could give them all a taste.

Taste both the green and red chili and you make the choice which you like better.
'
Forego on the huge cinnamon bun.

In Upland, CA if you like barbecue you could give Joey's a try.

Flagstaff Arizona: Black Barts is not on Route 66. If you want a noisy diner with singing waiters Black Barts is the place.
 
On old Route 66 there is a little diner that has been on 66 since the 50's. It is called Miz Zip's. I love their burgers and fresh cut fries.
 
Bring cash or check as they do not except cash, debit, or credit cards.
 
Have a wonderful trip. As a resident of RI for 46 years I wish I had done the Route 66 tour when I moved out here.
 
Linda

badbyron772 and enginecapt, thank you for correcting me -- I've made the edit.  And to think I proofed that list 3 times!

And a huge THANKS so far to everyone for these great suggestions!    Chris

Chris, I can heartily endorse Marlene's recommendation to try Joey's Barbeque in Upland.  Based on a RF trip report from Ellen and Marlene, I have visited Joet's twice on CA trips within the last year, including taking some coworkers, and found it to have some great ribs and side dishes.

I can suggest some  unique road food on and off 66 here in the Fontana area if you're interested, but it sounds like you'll be full by the time you get this far. Maybe on the way back.

ayersian


badbyron772 and enginecapt, thank you for correcting me -- I've made the edit.  And to think I proofed that list 3 times!

And a huge THANKS so far to everyone for these great suggestions!    Chris

To be annoyingly precise, Rialto isn't up at the summit, it's down here in the valley, in between San Berdoo and Cucamonnnnnnnnnnga. (the old farts will get that one)

mar52


I was also going to suggest The Frontier.  When I was there I bought side orders of things so I could give them all a taste.

Taste both the green and red chili and you make the choice which you like better.
'
Forego on the huge cinnamon bun.

In Upland, CA if you like barbecue you could give Joey's a try.

I'm not very up on my Mexican dishes could someone tell me what dish is Michael Stern eating in the Roadview review of the Frontier in which he describes sunnyside up eggs. It's a picture on the review.

Thanks

Chris and Amy, in Willowbrook IL you really should partake of the very good fried chicken at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket on old Route 66. The place has been there since back in the pre-interstate era and is closed on Monday, but I'll be happy to meet you there any other day.

                                                    www.chickenbasket.com

                                      www.youtube.com/watch?v=n50gUqkngCg

enginecapt

ayersian


badbyron772 and enginecapt, thank you for correcting me -- I've made the edit.  And to think I proofed that list 3 times!

And a huge THANKS so far to everyone for these great suggestions!    Chris

To be annoyingly precise, Rialto isn't up at the summit, it's down here in the valley, in between San Berdoo and Cucamonnnnnnnnnnga. (the old farts will get that one)

Not unless you mention Anaheim and Azusa.

See? I was right.

Chris,
  When you stop between San Berdoo and L A, at the Magic Lantern on the Upland/Rancho Cuc border (on Foothill). look across the street to see the Sycamore Inn. It claims to be the oldest resturant in California (in operation since 1846). Since there were nothing but Missions and farms in the area prior to the frustrated 49er's moving in a few years later, I am not sure who the place served in the pre-USA days! But the claim has a plaque  etc posted in front of the place to give it some respectibility.

Since I know you like relatively short side-trips let me give you a dandy if you have a few hours in Western Arizona. Between Seligman and Truxton is the village of Peach Springs. There is a side road, owned and operated by the local Indian Tribe that leads down to the Colorado River at the Western end of the Grand Canyon. It is a dirt road, a bit rough in places but I have driven it twice, once in an Explorer and the second time in my Pickup. Neither had nor needed 4x4 for that road. The scenery is spectacular, the road is empty and it is worth a couple of hours to see the river as it emerges from the Canyon. There is a Tribal office in Peach Springs where you register and pay a small toll ($5 the last time we did it) and can check on road conditions for the ride.  No food or water or comfort-stops, but some beautiful desert scenery and wildlife!.

As you go west from Peach Springs to Kingman, pause alongside the tracks to watch one of the many freight trains go by. Keep in mind that the Mayor and his young companion, Janet, spent many weekends along the tracks between the Cajon Pass area of SoCal, to as far east as Peach Springs, AZ  We have countless memories of that area, and miss it very much at times..

Have a great ride
 
PS-  As you approach the Summit of Cajon Pass thru the new urban sprawl of the high desert, you will pass thru the community of Hesperia. Unincorporated area of Desert until it became a city in 1988, you can see the uncontrolled growth as you progress along the 15 towards the valley below the Pass. That was my last home for 14 years before coming to Indiana. 
 
 The Summit Inn is on the east side of the freeway at the Oak Hills exit (right at the top of the Pass.) If you walk up the hill behind the restaurant you get a spectacular view of the Pass area. Cajon Pass is where the San Andreas Fault crosses thru the mountains from SE to NW.  It is possible to follow the original track of  the John Brown Toll Road down (or up) the pass today. The original rt 66 followed it fairly closely up the hill from the current  rt 138 interchange.  In 2000 we were coming up the original road when a rally of old cars were coming down the slope. Here is the scene. Remember the paving you see here is the original 1910 blacktop of the first Hiway 66. Much of it is gone now, but chunks are still in place on the county-maintained road up to the Summit Inn from the floor of the Pass. Gives you a feeling for what the early auto drivers experienced.
 

 
 
  In addition to great rail watching locations, it is easy to spot geologic  points of interest that show how the fault is moving. Check out the "Mormon Rocks" as you make the big sweeping curve down "the Hill" on the freeway. Large Sandstone formations on the right side of the freeway.  We have camped in those rocks countless times. Just below the truck weigh station  and Rt 138 exit is Cleghorn Road. If you get off at that exit, you can take "Old 66" that runs beside the freeway for several miles before you join back into the freeway traffic. It is a nice ride over the original 66 roadway thru Blue-Cut, the actual point of crossing for the Main San Andreas Line. (Very Visible). Unfortuneately the area in the 'pull-offs' has become an 'unsafe' neighborhood dur to its remote location...Lots of dope deals  happen there. Drive the old road, but don't take a walk in the woods , so to speak.
 
 

Upon close inspection of the above posted photos, it appears buffetbuster and Cousin Johnny are in the rear vehicle attempting to overtake The Travelin Man enroute to another pie stop!

Carolina Bob


Chris and Amy, in Willowbrook IL you really should partake of the very good fried chicken at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket on old Route 66. The place has been there since back in the pre-interstate era and is closed on Monday, but I'll be happy to meet you there any other day.

Depending on the day this could possibly be a Contingent mini-meet.

Brad

ChiTownDiner

Upon close inspection of the above posted photos, it appears buffetbuster and Cousin Johnny are in the rear vehicle attempting to overtake The Travelin Man enroute to another pie stop!

You need to get your eyes checked.  There is no way he would get in front of us in the first place! 

I am not "that" old.

And...  Coook cuh mongaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

However I am old enough to forget who said it at the end of some sentence and why.

Chris,  any idea when you'll be here?

Chrisamy,

Bobbi & I recently traveled a good part of I-40 paralleling Old 66 in 2-1/2 days - report here.  We attempted to eat exclusively at places in our Roadfood book and had no disappointments with the food.  Our only disappointments were being TTM'd and NiteOwl'd at two of our planned stops.  It would be worthwhile to call ahead for hours for Sunday and evening stops.

Regarding the Frontier, one of my co-workers lives outside Albuquerque.  When I told him we ate at the Frontier, Pete's response was "I'm sorry."  Bobbi & I each enjoyed our meals there, especially Bobbi's hash browns with cheese and chiles.  We also wouldn't bother with the cinnamon bun again.

My co-worker says there is a place in Albuquerque serving a better green chile cheeseburger than the famed Bobcat Bite.  Pete still hasn't told me the name, although I'm beginning to think it is his own kitchen.  If I find out, I'll let you know, or maybe you can stop at Pete's house for homemade New Mexican cuisine.

Jim

Mar-
  It was  an often repeated line by an off-stage track announcer at LA's Union RR Station when that location was used for a sketch on the Jack Benny Show. It never failed to draw one of Benny's  staged surprised looks, and a ton of laughter from the audience. 

I have never been able to think of Cucamonga and it's rural/semi-desert vineyards as the Yuppie-Community of RANCHO Cucamonga!
 
BTW guys, Sorry to ramble on so much about Cajon, but the area is near and dear to me. I taught a weekend field-trip class once a year for Cal-State San Berdoo "Exploring Cajon Pass". We looked at old roads and rail lines and even started each of the two days with breakfast at the Summit Inn.  I really earned my commission as MAYOR of the Pass !

Thanks, Al!  I now remember.

Was it George something or other doing the anouncing?

Back to Albuquerque...

If you see someone on the side of the road selling Pinions, stop and buy a bag.  Pine nuts still in the shell and they're delcious!

mayor al

  It was  an often repeated line by an off-stage track announcer at LA's Union RR Station when that location was used for a sketch on the Jack Benny Show. It never failed to draw one of Benny's  staged surprised looks, and a ton of laughter from the audience. 

The "off-stage track announcer" was Mel Blanc of Looney Tunes voice-over fame.  In addition to giving voice to Bugs, Daffy, Sylvester and the gang, Mel was a regular on Jack Benny's show.

Sy?
Si.
Sue?
Si.
Sew?
Si.

And I ain't even that old!

Buddy

mar52


Thanks, Al!  I now remember.

Was it George something or other doing the anouncing?

Back to Albuquerque...

If you see someone on the side of the road selling Pinions, stop and buy a bag.  Pine nuts still in the shell and they're delcious!

What????????????   I am totally confused.
 
from Dictionary.com:
 
[size=4 font="arial unicode ms"]pin·ion¹    /ˈpɪnyən/ [pin-yuhn]   –noun
1. Machinery . a. a gear with a small number of teeth, esp. one engaging with a rack or larger gear.
b. a shaft or spindle cut with teeth engaging with a gear.


2. Metalworking . a gear driving a roll in a rolling mill.
 
[size=4 font="arial unicode ms"]pin·ion²    /ˈpɪnyən/ [pin-yuhn] –noun
1. the distal or terminal segment of the wing of a bird consisting of the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges.
2. the wing of a bird.
3. a feather.
4. the flight feathers collectively.

I'm guessing that you need a Spanish dictionary.