The "Boy" is back in town

After a 30+ year hiatus from the City of Pasadena, Bob’s Big Boy has returned to the North Lake shopping district on Del Mar and Lake. This Bob has taken up residence at the former location of the Baja Fresh restaurant and certainly won't be confused with the flagship Bob’s '49 in Toluca Lake California. If you are looking for a return to that Southern California car hop culture of the 50’s, 60's and 70’s, then this wont do it for you. It does have the famous fiberglass Big Boy statue, the red and white checkered motif throughout the restaurant and the famous hamburgers with the thousand island dressing but not much else. Although the staff was very friendly, it reminded me of a kiosk in the mall and I am sure if it does not do well it will certainly disappear overnight and be replaced with a Pinkberry, a Verizon store or one of those discount book stores where you can get a big picture book on Gardening or the history of Trains for $3.98. If you want that vintage Bob’s Big Boy experience then you will have to venture to Toluca Lake or to the city of Downey, which is south off the Golden State Freeway. For anyone who does not like to travel past Echo Park for fear of going beyond the hip neighborhood zone, just pretend you are en route to Disneyland and make a detour and visit Downey which is a cool and interesting suburb loaded with fast food history and Rock n' Roll history. The oldest standing McDonald's and the first Taco Bell are in Downey. It was also the home of the independent music label Downey Records which signed such surf acts as The Chantays (Pipeline) and The Rumblers. The Carpenters, The Blasters, Metallica and Billy Zoom from X have all called Downey their home and I am sure they have all had a Bob’s Big Boy hamburger at one point….well maybe not Karen Carpenter.