places that would make it on to a food network program

[captainmike]

I watch a lot of programs like diners drive-ins and dives, etc, etc.
What places do you think would make it to a show like that in the bay area and why?
I know I can go to their website and look up where they have been but I am sure there are many more places that have something really special about them. places that if I saw in on the food network I would want to go there.
don't bother to mention them if they cost a fortune like Chez Panisse, I can't afford to go there.

[JonDough]

Val's burgers in Hayward.

[mmaghakian]

I found this article

http://www.7x7.com/eat-drink/2010-big...

[AdamD]

Zeitgeist & Tommy's!

[ML8000]

Many of the taco trucks in Oakland sell GINORMUS super burritos, 2 foot tubes that must weight 3 lbs or more. Taqueria Sinaloa at 22nd and International sell one for $10 bucks.

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Taqueria Sinaloa
2138 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94606

[steve h.]

Pine Cone Diner in Pt. Reyes Station is a solid stop for breakfast or lunch if you are in the area. Rustic, cash only. Cowgirl Creamery is across the street.

[Robert Lauriston]

Triple Rock's Avalanche reminded me of the kind of gross-looking junk Guy Fieri features in his show. Two burgers topped with chili, nachos-type garnishes, and cheese fries.

Fieri has featured Grubstake, which is worth a visit, and Joe's Cable Car, which you might want to read reports about here first.

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Triple Rock Brewery
1920 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

[scottca075]

In my experience, a lot of the places these shows go, the food is pretty average.

On the diner side, there are old school place like Art's Cafe, Howard's Cafe, Judy's Homestyle Cafe, Sea Breeze Cafe and Sear's Fine Food. New school diners like Mel's Drive-in, Fog CIty, Squat & Gobble, Dottie's True Blue Cafe, Honey Honey Cafe and Gott's Roadside.

Other places, Schroeder's, Swan Oyster Depot, Durty Nelly's, Shanghai Dumpling King...

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Gott's Roadside
933 Main St, Saint Helena, CA 94574

Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

Dottie's True Blue Cafe
522 Jones St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Shanghai Dumpling King
3319 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94121

[Civil Bear]

Isn't Mel's Drive-In a 50's style diner?

[scottca075]

50's style, but not from the 50's, it is from '85 trying to recapture the 50's vibe that the original Mel's had. That was the distinction I was trying to make.

[captainmike]

what makes these places SPECIAL? do they grind their own grain. do they have a special dish that has some special way that they make it ? I am looking for SPECIAL. I doubt all those places are special but I could be wrong. please tell me why I should make a trip to these places.
thank you

[Windy]

Why not read this board a little more and share your own finds?

Considering the hundreds of great restaurants in this area, and that this is your first Chowhound post, it's a little hard to decipher what you consider SPECIAL.