Bagdad Cafe, historic roadhouse along Route 66 at Newberry Springs

You've read about U.S. Route 66 during your junior year in high school history... You've read John Steinbeck's book, Grapes of Wrath... You've seen the late 1980's vintage movie Bagdad Cafe... Remember Whoopie Goldberg in the TV show Bagdad Cafe... You've seen the tour buses in front of the place... What am I talking about? Why the world-famous Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, about a half hour east of Barstow, California, along historic Route 66.

Left: I park at Bagdad Cafe, east of Newberry Springs, California. Right: Bagdad Cafe has a historic Route 66 marker. Prior to the 1980's movie, Bagdad Cafe, place was known as the Sidewinder Cafe. After the movie, the new name just sort of stayed.

Yes, Bagdad Cafe is a real restaurant that is internationally know, but serves food that caters to locals. It's also a hangout for locals and if you'll look in the corner of the restaurant, you'll find the daily paper from Barstow and a whole bunch on contemporary magazines to read.

Left: "Boss Lady" Andre and helper Mary work the counter. Right: The breakfast counter at the Bagdad Cafe and the Route 66/Bagdad Cafe-oriented souvenir shop in the background.

If you're a fan of the 1950's and Route 66, then you'll want to pay a visit to the Bagdad Cafe. Inside you'll find such items as a counter with stools, where the "Boss Lady" will make you a real milkshake, with real ice cream. Then you can look into the corner of the place and check out the heater. Yes, to bring you back to the 1950's or earlier, it's one of those large enameled boxes mounted near the ceiling at the corner of the building, held to place by half-in galvanized pipe fittings; a plumbers dream. Such is a roadhouse of 1950's vintage.

Left: Tanen prepares my lunch, which consisted of an Ortega burger. What is that you ask? A hamburger with a grilled Ortega chili pepper placed on top of the meat, a standby in southern San Joaquin Valley cuisine. Right: My brother Paul and a local are seen in the Bagdad Cafe dining room.

Andre and Tanen own and run the Bagdad Cafe, and they're hard at work from 0700 to 1900 every day of the week; naturally they have other employees on an "as-needed" basis. Andre is known as "Boss Lady" and she will greet you as you walk in the door. She keeps the place clean, takes your order, brings your meals to you and does just about everything in the place. Tanen's main job is taking care of the kitchen and cooking food, as he's not as gregarious as his wife, but you'll see Tanen waiting on tables in between kitchen duties.

Photo: I demonstrate how to successfully eat a Ortega burger at the Bagdad Cafe.

What kind of a menu does a world famous eatery like Bagdad Cafe feature? How about local, California, desert cuisine. Bagdad Cafe features good food, but their menu could not be considered fancy by any means, nor could their menu be considered exotic; basically, it's a reflection upon the taste of the locals. However, as a native of the southern San Joaquin Valley of California, I find the menu of the Bagdad Cafe right in line with my tastes. Order anything on their menu and you'll be happy, as the food is good, the price is reasonable and Andre and Tanen are gracious hosts. Not the mention the atmosphere of a 1950's roadhouse. Darn, I wish James Dean was still with us!

Left: If you're a local resident, Bagdad Cafe maintains a "bar tab" for locals, so you can charge your meals and pay them once a month, as this gentleman is doing. Right: Andre and Mary check out the receipts. Note that there are no electronic computers or calculators, as the bookeeping is done the old fashioned way.

When you're east of Newberry Springs, pull off the Interstate and take the old road, historic Route 66 and stop by the Bagdad Cafe for a great meal at a reasonable price. You'll come away satisfied and you'll experience a piece of history that you won't find on the Interstate.

Web page design has been created by Eric's Enterprises, Inc., website design, and more...