Rudford's Restaurant

Rudford's has always had a strange pull on the Missus, as light does a moth. I'm not quite sure what it is about the place......

Rudford's does have one thing going for it, in a town where most everything except chain restaurants close by 10 pm, Rudford's stays open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

And having been around for sixty years does say something about staying power, though I must say that many of the customers(and smells) eating at Rudford's seem like they've been coming here since 1949.

If you look up the definition of the word "Diner" in the American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, you'd read: "A small, usually inexpensive restaurant with a long counter.....

and booths......."

Say what you will, being around so long says something about staying power...... We found the staff to be mostly really nice folks, patient with the wide range of customers, from cranky old folks, to people obviously fighting psychological demons, to drunk, post nightclub kids. We found the younger Servers to be much more flexible than the two older women, with chain smoker complexions, who called everyone "honey" in a raspy voice....... tough birds both of them. Half the fun is the atmosphere.

The food ranges from good honest fare, to stuff that harkens flashbacks to the stuff I ate in my Junior High and High School Cafeteria. As I often say, "it's a fine line between comfort and really bad food".

So for better or worse, here's a rundown of a couple of dishes we've had at Rudford's.....

The Hot Roast Beef Sandwich ($9.25):

When I requested Fries with Gravy instead of mashed potato, the young man told me "no problem", and that's what I got. Perfectly fried steak style fries smothered in brown gravy....Sysco heaven! Ever since I visited Canada back in the 90's, I've loved Poutine. The roast beef was tender, but stringy, and reminded me of cafeteria fare, but it was not inedible. There's something about old fashioned white bread soaked in gravy that I enjoy as well....

 

The Missus ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs:

Though the pounded beef was very tender, it was super bland. The country gravy was like eating paste. The Missus did enjoy the O'Brien potatoes, and of course She rarely meets an egg She doesn't like.

One quick thing....what is it with these places and toast? They all seem to do toast right, dry but not crumbly, a good tool for sopping up egg, or other stuff.....

On another visit, I wasn't too happy with my Turkey Club Sandwich ($7.95).... funny thing, to the day She passed on, my Mom always called this a "Clubhouse Sandwich", never a Club Sandwich:

I appreciated the perfect smear of mayo. It's a funny thing, I eschew mayo on most sandwiches, but must have it on my Club(house). I wasn't too happy with the processed turkey and for some reason the American Cheese threw the entire sandwich off.

Lucky for me, I requested and received this for my fries (crinkle cut Sysco-fied this time):

Yes.....brown gravy. Given to me, no charge... a meal saver.....

The Missus got the Monday thru Friday 2 Eggs, Potatoes, and Toast special ($3.79):

No complaints from the Missus......

On Sunday there are two dinner/lunch specials. Like all of these type meals it starts with soup. In this case a pretty decent chicken noodle soup. Noodles kinda mushy, but okay.....

The Missus ordered the Chicken and Dumplings.

Let's just say that for us, this was an example of the worst that restaurants of this ilk put out. Bland, poorly prepared, purely created for the "dead tastebud society". Ick.........

I had the Turkey Dinner, which did look kinda cafeteria-like, down to the little thingy of cranberry sauce:

But the turkey was decent, moist and tender enough. I didn't care for the stuffing, which was very mushy. And of course, I got you-know-what-with-you-know-what. Do you see a common thread????

Stay away from the cooked vegetables if you can though, unless you just had dental surgery, or perhaps forgot your dentures. The veggies were also artificially sweet.....

Remember the peas you squished between your teeth with your tongue to gross people out???? Perfect candidates here.....

On one occasion, I tried the Chili and Scrambled Eggs with potatoes and toast ($7.95):

It turned out that the Missus really enjoyed the chili..... so She ordered it on a return visit, and got a bit of "chili revenge"...... She still wants more though......

At the end of the day, the food may ride the mediocre line, but the characters(on both sides of the counter) and attitude can't be beat. I think there's a place for Rudford's, a place where you don't concern yourself with words and phrases like "non commodity", "organic", "sustainable", "free-range", or "fair trade", and for some reason I find that kinda well, refreshing...... in a retro kinda way. I'll concern myself with those other issues on another day.

To quote one of the Server's when asked for Honey-Mustard Dressing; "I can give you honey, and I can give you mustard darlin', but we can't do honey-mustard.... we're old school!"

Rudford's Restaurant
2900 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA

Open 24 hours everyday

Comments

[kat]

I call it a clubhouse sandwich myself...loved seeing all that gravy! (and fries!)

[nhbilly]

I know what you mean. It has that nostalgic feeling that keeps me coming back despite the okay food.
All you need to have is good company just to enjoy the place sometimes. IMO

[Kirk]

Hi Kat - You do! That's funny....

Hi Billy - Good point!

[MrM]

Ah yes...shades of another San Diego that existed in my childhood but is fading quickly now.

Not been to Rudford's, but I've been to Keith's in NC and Perry's Cafe often enough.

Many are gone now...so that makes Rudford's and its kind a rare and precious breed for us Lifers, Sysco Brown Vitamin B gravy and all!

=P

[Rosa]

Thanks...now I have a craving for crinkle-cut fries n' gravy. /tummy rumble

[Janfrederick]

Oh wow, we'll have to go back again. The place is fun. Check out the coleslaw.

Hey, and how appropriate. I just learened a new term yesterday that applies to the facade: Googie architecture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googie)
This must be one of the oldest surviving examples in San Diego.

[Carol]

"Chili revenge" lol!! Fries and gravy, yeah baby! I kinda like these places. No judgement, eat what you want to eat and it's okay.

[ed (from Yuma)]

Wonderful and archetypal. How many meals have most of us eaten in such places?

[Kirk]

Hi MrM - There is something precious, and somewhat nostalgic about Rudford's.

Hi Rosa - I must have some kind of internal malfunction to enjoy gravy and fries so much!

Hi Jan - Googie Architecture, I love it. I learn something new everyday. BTW, here's the complete link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Googie_architecture

Hi Carol - Yes, you've got it right.... "no judgement eating".

Hi Ed - Though there are those who would deny EVER eating in these places, I believe we end up eating in such joints more often than nought.

[Faye]

I have to say the fries and gravy looked so awesome. Something about the almost 'too' perfect brown smooth texture and color of that gravy brings back elementary school memories :)
Have you tried Keiths on Miramar Road? I think you and the Missus might like that place if you haven't tried already. They are also open 24 hrs.
Thanks for the post - wonderful!

[HB]

My Dad used to eat at Rutherford's all the time. My husband and I stopped by a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Especially the waitress who had been there for 35 years!

[caninecologne]

hi kirk
i want to do that thing with the peas in my teeth now! nice!

you know, i've always wondered about rudfords every time i'm on the blvd...it looks so old school.

i can imagine that scene at the beginning of pulp fiction at rudfords...."all right, everybody be cool, this is a robbery!!!!"

[Dennis]

Hi Kirk, I love all breakfast diners. This place particularly seems to vary in consistency depending on which cook is present. Your turkey dinner actually looks beautiful compared to what I had a while back. Thanks for sharing as always and looking forward to posting my photos soon. Cheers.

[Kirk]

Hi Faye - Keith's is another place that keeps drawing the Missus.... I guess that'll be done a bit in the future.

Hi Holly - The atmosphere is quite unique for the area.

Hey CC - LOL! You obviously remember doing that! You know, that Pulp Fiction reference is too cool, much to cool for me.... I wish I'd have thought of it!

Hi Dennis - Funny thing, weekend breakfast with the two older women can be kinda....well inflexible. I enjoyed the turkey dinner, if only for the nostalgic feeling.....

[Andy (美國土子)]

$9.75 for a roast beef sandwich... sounds a little pricey compared to many ethnic offerings these days... so not so cheap. Problem is that in diners usually, they are cooks instead of chefs.

Visit The Crest n Hillcrest and do a post for us. Diner showdown! that place is goooood

[foodhoe]

ooh yeah all of those gravy shots definitely gave me an itch and I have been thinking about poutine too... I have never seen chili and scrambled eggs together on the menu either, what a cool restaurant!

[Kirk]

Hi Andy - I gotta give Cooks their props. A huge plate of food like that for under 10 bucks is pretty good by San Diego standards. Are you mentioning the Crest Cafe?

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2005/07/crest_cafe__got.html

Hi FH - I'm afraid I've had too much gravy on the brain recently.... I'm sure the recent hot weather will cure me of that.

[caninecologne]

hi kirk - actually, i never did the peas thing with my teeth as a kid. now as an adult...

i was up there today after making a run to eclipse. i saw the blue restaurant and thought of hunny bunny and pumpkin...

[Laura]

If you get a turkey club on a Sunday night you can request that they make it with the fresh turkey that is part of the daily special. Also have them put avocados on the club - then it will be a sandwich that you will never forget! Also, I fondly remember the delicious homemade biscuits (only order them in the AM when they are fresh!) and the bread pudding...