There are times when a person might feel like going to a friendly place to eat, such as a diner or a soda-bar. Linda’s Soda Bar & Grill, owned by Linda McKenna, on Plumas Street in Yuba City would be just the place.
McKenna’s establishment recently underwent remodeling that nearly doubled their seating after acquiring a retail area called The Purple Hog, which was at one time a shop for selling leather goods. The restaurant can now seat up to 122 customers, according to McKenna.
Most people’s thoughts of a soda bar or diner bring visions of a place that has checkerboard flooring, booths, old style metal lined tables with some sort of odd design. Linda’s has all of that, as well as nostalgic items lining the walls, mostly consisting of old Pepsi-Cola advertisements. The 1950s music heavily consisting of Johnny Cash, as well as rock and roll, creates the atmosphere in the restaurant. A large U-shaped lunch counter at the center of the newly expanded area of the restaurant helps complete the image of a 1950s diner.
The waitresses were incredibly friendly and always make sure the customers feel right at home. They don’t just ask for your order, but also go as far to ask how you are doing, or how a family member might be if they know the person better, which you don’t find in many restaurants these days. This is one of the many reasons I go to small diners and restaurants not ran by a corporation. The friendly atmosphere created by those that work there definitely compliments everything.
I recently had a bacon cheeseburger there that is definitely one of the best. The hamburger patty was not undercooked at all; it was just a little juicy, which is much better then having a dry hamburger. The bacon was crispier than I like it but still full of flavor, the American cheese over it made the burger taste even better. One thing that surprised me about the burger was the freshness of the lettuce, tomato, pickle slices, and onions, which added a perfect crunch and even more flavor to the burger.
I also tried a side order of onion rings, they were well done and not steaming hot on the inside, and that can sometimes be a problem with onion rings. The batter had just the right amount of crunch to it, while the onion inside was perfectly deep fried.
This simple but filling meal can cost about eight dollars for one person, a reasonable price for any college student. If you want friendly service, good food in a place that might remind you of days long gone, go to Linda’s Soda Bar & Grill.
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