"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant..."Although it may not be THE Alice's that Arlo Guthrie sang about (that one is in Massachusetts), this Woodside establishment has been packing them in for over half a century. The restaurant's wooden structure -- located at the top of Skyline Boulevard -- is actually about 100 years old. But it started out as a general store, and was later turned into a restaurant in the 1950s. In the '60s, Alice Taylor purchased it and renamed the spot. It has since changed ownership a couple more times, yet maintains its homey and rustic feel.
The diners here run the gamet, from families to young college students to bikers. Jon and I recently took the in-laws here.
I ordered the Joe's Special -- scrambled eggs with ground beef, spinach, onions, mushrooms and cheese served with a biscuit and hash browns. Although it was good, after seeing everyone else's reaction to their sandwiches, I think I should have picked something from the lunch menu instead. Jon's dad had the tuna melt; his mom opted for a turkey sandwich; and Jon couldn't resist the BLT. They each raved about their food.
We also ordered some garlic fries and beer-battered onion rings. Delicious! Often, garlic fries are heavy on the garlic, but the actual texture of the fries is overlooked. Alice's, however, were nice and crispy.
The next time we make the trip here, I think I'll try the BMW burger -- bacon, sauteed mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce and jack cheese. Mmmm... Quite a few menu items make reference to motorcycles, a nod to many of Alice's loyal patrons. The curvy road leading you to the restaurant is a big draw for riders.
Alice's Restaurant
17288 Skyline Boulevard
Woodside, CA
(650) 851-0303
