Richard Walker's ~ December 27, 2006

I woke up in the morning to the sound of traffic on wet pavement. The whole time we were out the day before and even at night it didn’t look like there was any bad weather coming, so I couldn’t believe it. But I looked out the window and sure enough, the sky was gray and it was raining steadily. That was okay, though, as we could just make this day our museum day instead of our beach day. By the time we all got ready to go, the rain had disappeared just as unexpectedly as it had come, though it was still cool and super windy, so we continued with our museum plan.

For breakfast we went to Richard Walker’s Pancake House (520 Front Street, just south of Market St. in the Marina District of downtown San Diego, www.richardwalkers.com). I love pancakes, and I’m also a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, so I wanted to see this award-winning restaurant that was voted “Best Breakfast” while also viewing its Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired décor. It’s a relatively new restaurant, having opened over the summer.

Richard Walker’s does serve lots of delicious pancakes - including plain old-fashioned buttermilk pancakes (with a hint of sourdough), chocolate chip pancakes, a giant oven-baked apple pancake, German pancakes, Swedish Lingonberry pancakes, blueberry pancakes, strawberry pancakes, banana pancakes, cinnamon pancakes, potato pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, healthy wheat germ pancakes, Gold Rush flap jacks, raisin and pecan pancakes, etc. They also offer classic Eggs Benedict, several different kinds of crepes, Belgian waffles, French toast, scrambled eggs, omelets, fresh squeezed juices, and for chocolate lovers – a chocolate-filled crepe topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

The menu design is whimsical and fairy tale-ish, apparently to match the Children's Museum soon to be opening around the corner, although the restaurant itself is not really designed with young children in mind. Instead, the upscale interior is reminiscent of a classic Frank Lloyd Wright design complete with hand-blown glass fixtures, stained glass windows, wood paneling, and a juxtaposition of high and low ceilings.

The restaurant is rather small and cramped, seating 50 inside a compact room and another 30 outside on Front Street. The bathroom door is right there in the middle of the seating area and only one person at a time can use it. Classical music plays in the background, but it’s difficult to hear because the restaurant is noisy with people talking and dishes clinking, the sounds of which bounce off the hard surfaces.

Richard Walker’s Pancake House is right next to the new Pinnacle Museum Tower, a luxury high-rise condo. Hold onto your hat, because the buildings create a wind tunnel effect when walking between them. Expect to pay around $10 per person, which for a family of five turned out to be a rather expensive breakfast!

MacAlpine’s ~ October 21, 2006

After we picked up Peter, we went to MacAlpine’s Soda Fountain for lunch. MacAlpine's Restaurant and Soda Fountain is located in an old red brick building dating back to 1928. The address is 2303 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. MacAlpine’s once included a drugstore and a small shop adjoining the soda fountain. Now it contains Vintage Treasures and a large antique store next door. Unlike some places that are designed around a nostalgic theme, when you enter this restaurant you really do take a step back in time. MacAlpine’s features a collection of genuine memorabilia including antique Coke signs. Check out the 1952 jukebox as you walk in the front door. You can sit at the original counter on one of the swivel stools, in a booth, or at a small table. They serve burgers, sandwiches, soups and salads in addition to the typical fountain fare of shakes, malts, sodas and sundaes. They even have old-fashioned Eggcreams™ and Phosphates™ with 34 flavors to choose from! MacAlpine’s uses Thrifty™ brand ice cream, which many of us here in Arizona will remember being sold in drug stores when we were kids. Oh, and MacAlpine’s homemade lemonade is delicious! They also have seafood chowder, French onion soup, and Black Bean vegetarian burgers. Bring the family and experience an authentic 1950’s malt shop atmosphere. www.macalpinessodafountain.com