Best of 2001: Best Historic Highway Café

101 Café
631 South Coast Highway 101, Oceanside
760-722-5220

You're always hearing about ol' cliche-ridden Route 66, but how about our own, glorious Royal Highway, the former Camino Real, Highway 101? Friars to farmers to surfing safaristas have traveled this route for nearly 250 years, ever since Father Serra led his Franciscans up what was then the New World's Most Distant Frontier. Maybe Father Serra didn't pop in here at the 101 Café himself, but the joint is the oldest eating establishment in Oceanside, up and running since 1928. Greyhound buses always stopped outside. Passengers would reach down to buy burgers. The "101 Burger" with its "secret sauce" hasn't changed. Nor has the chiliburger. "We go through 15 gallons of chili every week," says John Daley, one of the owners. "And we carve 350 pounds of turkey breast a week in summer." Spend time scanning the walls: Daley and co-owner David Ranson keep scads of historic photos pinned up.