Lunch Along Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame California
Alana’s Cafe is one of those cozy places that reminds you of years long gone. We were lucky for a long time, to have two such places in downtown Burlingame until a couple of months ago when Towels closed its doors. But Alana’s remains, always crowded, always good, and always well worth any wait you might have in order to sit down. They seat, maybe 40 people max and that includes the couple of tables set on the sidewalk in front of the cafe during warm weather days. Inside, one finds a wonderful long soda bar with old fashioned round seats a few tables in the front and about 10 tables in the rear of the cafe. It’s a place where you want to linger a while.
We walked through the cafe and sat in the sunny back dining area. Alana’s is known for her great breakfasts and lunches and now she serves dinner four nights a week. If you don’t time it right, you’ll find yourself waiting for a seat. We came a little on the early side and were seated immediately for lunch. On weekends, plan on spending a while out front waiting for open seating. It’s a destination for your weekend breakfast.
Since it was lunchtime I decided on one of the luscious salads on the menu. Their Spicy Thai Beef looked wonderful so I ordered that one. My girlfriend, Norma, had the Special of the Day, the Cobb Salad. Both were large, fresh salads that we enjoyed greatly. What I really appreciate is having the dressing on the side, without having to ask.
Alana’s has two locations. This one has been on Burlingame Avenue for years and her second location is near downtown Redwood City in an old pre-’06 quake Victorian house set among redwoods. The menus are the same for both locations but Redwood city does not serve dinner.
Both the Burlingame and Redwood City cafes are in historical buildings and both emit great charm and warmth. With good food made from fresh ingredients Alana’s is a sure-fire hit for a meal that is reasonably priced. If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane — in the sense of the feel of an ice cream parlor, go to the Burlingame location. Redwood City is a place for a special occasion lunch like a shower or special event. They have small dining rooms in each of the main floor rooms, and it is possible to reserve an entire room for an event.
Other Burlingame Avenue places to eat:
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