Hey LoveItaly - Any interesting non-chain restaurants in Vacaville?? Nothing much good in Benicia & I know them all in Napa so looking for something new to try. How about Fairfield??
Thanks!
Cobbie

Hi cobbie, well as you probably know Vacaville mostly has chain restaurants but there are a few in downtown Vacaville that are not.

I loved The Old Post Office Seafood & Grill located at 301 main St. Ph No. 447-1858 until Easter evening when my SIL was advised that he could have his prime rib rare (he requested medium well) or he could order something else. Evidently the chef was being a "prima donna" LOL. Not funny at the time though. However other than that I have had meals I have enjoyed usually. Not always consistent unfortunatly. The restaurant is in the former post office & they did spend money on the building.

Also, just recently Creekside Bar & Grill opened up at 555 Main St., phone no. 448-7500. This location was original FireFalls Restaurant. The original owners could not make a go of it and the owner of Creekside Cafe (at Alamo and NutTree Rd.) took the business over. They are packed at lunch and dinner. American style food (big portions). I have been there a lot since they opened up and I must say it seems the cooking is consistant. Customers love the French Dip, the Crab or Shrimp Louie's, the burgers, the liver and onions etc, the chicken fettucini etc. They have a deck with umbrella tables that overlook Ulatis Creek and Andrews Park. Service is always friendly and efficient etc.

Right across the street- just up a few doors - is a funky small place called The Tortilla Factory. It is barebones. Owned by Mary who is from Guadlajara (sp?) Mexico. I love their pork burritos, but keep in mine it really is a just a funky little place.

Cobbie, that is about it for nonchains I am afraid. I know what you mean about Benicia. I did have a great Crab Louie at Capt. Blyther's last summer but do not know if that was a fluke or what, LOL.

I don't really go to Fairfield to tell you the truth. But if you go to the website for the Vacaville newspaper which is www.thereporter.com and click on the Food section you will see reviews of various places in Vacaville and Fairfield. Nothing fancy though and that is for sure. In otherwords, not SF quality.

Cobbie, you live in Benicia I believe? If so, do you ever drive to Vallejo and take the ferry to SF (the Ferry Building). It only takes 55 minutes and as am sure you know there are so many wonderful restaurants in SF it is well worth the time.

Oh, just happened to remember. I haven't been there in ages and ages but a lot of Vacan's love The Cattleman which is up the road on I-80. You take Curry Rd., at Dixon and it is right there. Evidently besides their great meat they evidently serve wonderful lobster tails. That is it I believe, sigh. If I can think of anything else I will post back here. Take care, and enjoy that wonderful Benicia weather. Vacaville has been from 102 to 106 degrees, it is terrible. Best wishes.

Thanks so much! I know not to expect SF quality here in the hinterlands.

I've heard about The Old Post Office - now I'll for sure have to go. I have taken the ferry from Vallejo to the Ferry Building. Love it! Need to make a return trip. The only thing I ever order at Captain Blyther's is the combo crab/shrimp louie. There is a new "Hawaiian" restaurant at the bottom of Rose Drive called "Hula Hut". Looked interesting - I'm going to try it soon. I'll have a look at the newspaper website too.
It's actually chilly tonight here in Benicia.
Have a great day,
Karen

Hi Karen, hope you will post back here and let me know how the Hula Hut is. I read about it - and would be interested in your thoughts. It sounds like we rather like the same type of dishes. Take care, and enjoy those cool evenings!

Hi Karen, the other day when I was downtown I did realize there is one other "nonchain" restaurant I forgot to tell you about.

The name is Salcido's. It is on Main St. also. About 2 blocks north of The Old Post Office restaurant, and at the southern end of the block where Creekside Bar & Grill is.

This restaurant is only opened for dinners. Hours are something like 5:30pm to 9:00pm. I know that the owners put a fortune into the building but I have not eaten there and have not come across anyone else that has either. They have an exhibition kitchen and the space does look beautiful but have no idea about the quality of the food. Anyway FYI. Still envy you in Benicia with the cooler weather as it is still so hot here in Vacaville. Take good care.

LovItaly - My girlfriends & I are going to the Hawaiian restaurant Friday night. I'll let you know how it is.

Meanwhile - when are they going to begin on the "New" Nut Tree?? Did I hear there is going to be some interesting restaurants?? What else are they planning on??
Karen

Hi Karen, nice to hear from you!

I was thinking of you last week as I checked out the other restaurant I mentioned to you, although I did not eat there.

The name is Saltato's. It is an Italian Restaurant. 535-A Main St., Vacaville. Ph # is 450-0412. They are opened Tues-Thurs 5-9pm and Fri-Sat 5-10pm.

When I went in there, about 7:00pm this restaurant was very busy, all the customers looked very happy. I checked their menu and they have a large selection, something for everyone. Their exhibitation kitchen is fun to see. I plan to go their soon, but am getting over a virus/flu right now so will wait a few days.

The two owners come from a long line of Italian chefs.

About the Nut Tree. Well the prediction is that building will commence sometime soon. Eventually there is to be a hotel, a conference center, townhouses, upscale shops, a "family oriented" entertainment area for children, and of course restaurants. I would imagine it will probably be a couple of years before anything is completed. The restaurants are suppose to be upscale, time will tell.

Karen, the online edition of the Vacaville newspaper is: www.thereporter.com if you want to bookmark it as I anticipate more news regarding the Nut Tree in the future.

Do let me know how the Hawaiian restaurant is. I just noticed that there is a restaurant chain, Hawaiian, that opened in Fairfield, Gateway Ave., I think, next to the mall. Sounds like Hawaiian restaurants are now the new in "thing".

Take care, and enjoy your beautiful weather.

LoveItaly - my friends & I went to the Hula Hut at Rose Drive/Columbus Pkwy last night. I would not recommend it. That's unfortunate cuz the prices sure were right & the waitresses were in cute Hawaiian outfits & were good but the food - too much fried stuff & too salty. We won't be going back.

I've bookmarked the Vacaville paper & intend to try some of your restraunt suggestions soon.
Hope you're feeling better!
Karen

Hi Karen, you know what, your restuarant report is more or less what I expected. Thanks for being the "tester" LOL. Greasy and salty does not work for me either. From what you say imagine they will not be in business very long.

Karen, I saw your post regarding a Bay Area GTG. I have a question for you. Would you like to come up to Vacaville and meet for dinner? I do not want to post my email address here but if you would like meet for dinner I have a solution. Remember Marilyn that replied to your post. She does post her email address on Fodors. You could send her an email, I could tell her to give you mine and bingo, we could be in touch. Let me know if you would like to do that. And have a relaxing Sunday. Best regards.

Dear LoveItaly - just sent Marilyn an e-mail to put myself on the GTG list & asked her to send you my private e-mail. I'd love to do dinner sometime in Vacaville - I suspect you & I have a lot in common.
Karen

Hello All,

I read your post about the Hula Hut in Benicia. I've been to this restaurant many times. I have also recommended it to many friends. So far we've all been very happy with the food and the staff. I think your comments aren't fair. Considering how busy it is on the weekends, I feel they have no problem staying in business. Give it try before you knock it. I wouldn't necessarily take the word of one person to base my remarks.

Seahaven--How is it that this is your first and only post on Fodors? Might you have a vested interested in this restaurant?

Cobbie relayed her experience there and gave her opinion. That kind of feedback is what this forum is for.

So by posting something positive automatically makes me somehow connected to this restaurant? Is this a place to only post negative comments? I had no idea I was in the "negative only posts" forum. Or maybe it's "Your first post must be negative or you have some vested interest in a business" forum. Or maybe you own an L&L restaurant and don't want any other Hawaiian restaurants to do well. In any event, I liked the restaurant and I'm giving my opinion. She posted that she didn't like it and I posted that I did.

"Thin skin need not apply to Fodors"

Seahaven, what other restaurants do you like in Benicia??? Inquiring minds want to know.

Seahaven--
Good and bad feedback is what makes this message board work. I can safely say I (and others) value honest reviews; it's the ones that come out of the blue and so polar opposite of another that makes me suspicious.

Perhaps I'm cynical but to me, your post read not as a review but as someone who has ties to the restaurant, especially your, "Considering how busy it is on the weekends, I feel they have no problem staying in business." comment. Perhaps I'm off-base but it struck me as something a defensive owner or chef might say.

What are the L&L restaurants that you mentioned? If you click on my name, you'll see I live in Atlanta and have never been closer to Vacaville or Benecia than San Francisco...and I'm a teacher, definately not a restauranteur!!

OWJ, has a point. The input from Fodorites is what makes this forum so valuable. I don't necessarily agree with everyone all the time, but would give more credence to a regular's input than a first time poster's. So, if I'm in the area, I'd probably steer clear based on cobbie's comments. I'll be waiting to see the number, quantitiy and variety of Seahaven's posts. If this is Seahaven's only contribution to this board, then OWJ has nailed this.

And, of course, in my book LoveItaly's input trumps everyone.

If you're willing to go a bit over from Vacaville to Winters, you have a choice of two restaurants: the Buckhorn, for dinners featuring meats and fish (try the elk: amazingly tender), or the Putah Creek Café, for marvelous breakfasts and lunches.

Sounds as though we need to have an around-Vacaville GTG!

Hi Underhill, I too have been thinking that it would be fun to have a local (local for us) Fordor's GTG! Shall we try to set something up? Bet we could even get Mr.& Mrs Kal from Roseville to join us.

BTW, regarding the Buckhorn. We use to go there as at times the Insurance Agents Association would have dinners there and sometimes we would stop there when coming back from Oregon. I must confess I forgot about it. Always enjoyed the dinners.

I am not the least bit familar with the Putah Creek Cafe, where is that?

If you want to pursue a Vacaville GTG the restaurant that Cobbie and I went to would accomodate us I am sure. It is a beautiful restaurant and the food is fantastic.

Maybe we could get some of the Marin County Fodorites to join us. They are so much fun.

Hope you have been enjoying the cooler weather, I sure have. Best wishes.

Hello OneWonderingJew,

I did a search on google about The Old Post Office Seafood & Grill because there was an article in the Vacaville Reporter which I'm sure you know nothing about. It was an article that talked about the history of the restaurant and it's owner. I did a convenient search on Google for more information and came accross Fodor's. While reading about The Old Post Office restaurant on this website, i saw the negative post about the Hula Hut. Seeing that I've been to the Hula Hut restaurant on a number of occasions and usually during the weekend. I felt it was necessary for me to respond and post something positive. But since other people had to come up with crazy conspiracy theories that I somehow have a vested interest in this place, I now feel that I have to defend myself from such ridiculous nonsense. I work full time in the IT industry in San Francisco. I don't know the first thing about restaurants and I care not to.

So why would you get so tied up in a topic about a restaurant that is over a thousand miles from Atlanta? Does it piss you off that someone posted a comment that doesn't go along with someone else who is a regular poster on this website? And what on earth is wrong with a comment about how I feel this place won't be closing soon based upon the number of people that were there on a weekend? I happen to go on weekends because it's convenient for me. Any restaurant that is packed usually means they are doing well. I didn't see any "Free Food" signs posted in the windows. It's just something that any person who isn't BLIND would notice.

LoveItaly, Here are my thoughts on other restaurants in Benicia... I happen to spend a lot of time around First Street in Benicia and have sampled many different restaurants in that area. Sandoval's mexican food and First street cafe are 2 that I like a lot.

I never expected so many crazy posts because I posted something that was the exact opposite of another person. If i were to go onto a car enthusiast website and someone were to say something negative about a miata, I would be very quick to point out that I love the miata and I dont see Mazda going out of business any time soon. Does that mean I have some vested interest in Mazda? I'm so annoyed by these stupid accusations, especially over something so dumb as food. This is the first time i've ever felt so unwelcome by any forum. I guess you get your kicks by picking on first time posters. Maybe this is your way to keep this place to yourself.

What kind of wacky place is this anyways? One negative post automatically means a place sucks and isn't worth trying? It usually takes several negative posts and no positive posts before I will make a decision about where I'll go to eat or what movie I'll go to see.

Hope you continue to have fun Flaming the new guy. I don't plan on posting here anymore because it appears to be a waste of time. And I won't be looking to this website any time soon for objective feedback on where to eat. Nobody here seems to want anything positive posted for fear of being accused of having some vested interest in the place they like.