BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
by Steve
Friday, July 06, 2007
Did you know that the popular pizza chain, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse started in Santa Ana?
I remember going there with my family when I was a kid.
It was located on 17th street, just a block east from the corner with Bristol St. It opened up in 1978.
According to BJ's website, it was called, "BJ's Chicago Pizzeria", but my family always called it "Chicago Pizza". It had sawdust all over the floor, and they indeed made some great chicago-style pizza. The lighting was always dark inside, and my parents would always get a pitcher of beer. I want to say that they used to have red and white checkered tabled cloths.
In 1996, BJ's began offering their own line of beers, and then switched their name to "BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse". I remember in the late 1990's seeing BJ's springing up everywhere, but it never dawned on me this was the same "chicago pizzeria" that my family went to in the late 70's.
Our family would pack up inside my dad's Chevy van, with some friends of ours, and we'd have a great time there.
Interestingly, BJ's no longer operates a restaurant in Santa Ana.
I sent an e-mail to the people at BJ's and asked if they had a photograph of the original Santa Ana restaurant, and I got a reply from Rob DeLiema, the President, that they did not. If any of you happen to have one, contact me, and I'll put it online.
Otherwise, click on "Post a Comment" if you remember going to the original BJ's.
Labels: BJ's-Restaurant-Brewhouse
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My Favorite Orange County Restaurants
by Steve
Friday, January 13, 2006
There were several places to eat around Orange County that I would regard as favorites. Some of them are not around anymore.
Chicago Pizza Factory - I don't know if this was the correct name of the place. But it was located in Santa Ana, about a block east from 17th Street and Bristol. They served only chicago style pizza, of course, and some other dishes too. They had saw dust on the floor. (Update: This place was actually the first BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, before they became "BJ's")
Rubino's Pizza - Probably my favorite pizza joint of all time. They had several locations, including one in Santa Ana on the corner of Main & MacArthur. They had also a location in Mission Viejo, at the Portola Plaza off of Marguerite and Rancho Santa Margarita Pkwy.
Goro - For Japanese food, this was my favorite Japanese restaurant of all time. It was located in a shopping center in Irvine, on the corner of Culver and Alton. It had a "jazzy" decor. The food was probably the most authentic I experienced of any US-based Japanese restaurant.
Las Brasas - This was located in Santa Ana, right across the street from the old Zody's on Harbor Blvd, near Edinger. This is was a hole-in-the-wall type of Mexican fare. Quality-wise, it was ok. But for whatever reasons, me and a buddy of mine used to eat here a lot during our college days.
Ricardo's - This is located in Orange, on Katella, about a couple blocks west of Tustin Ave. It's actually part of the Don Jose's chain. My wife and I used to go here an awful lot, and every now and then we'd run into an old co-worker of mine who also loved going there. They have some really good margaritas, and great salsa.
Bob's Big Boy - Before Bob's started shutting down most of its restaurants, my wife and I used to go here for Sunday breakfast buffet. We'd always go to the one in Laguna Hills, right off the 5 freeway, caddy-corner to the Laguna Hills Mall. I think it's a Carrows now.
What were your favorite eateries in Orange County? Post a comment below.
Labels: BJ's-Restaurant-Brewhouse, Bob's-Big-Boy, Goro, Las-Brasas, Ricardo's, Rubino's-Pizza
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