As of this morning (Nov 3), the Baja Cantina is out and the Running Iron Restaurant & Saloon is in!
The owners of the Running Iron have been very helpful. They host large groups quite often. From what I hear you can usually find a bunch of Harleys parked outside in the evenings...
The Running Iron is letting us have a full menu that includes everything from Saturday morning brunch, burgers & sandwiches, salads, 'South of the border' choices, steak and pasta... In addition to letting us have the full menu, they are not requiring a deposit for us to bring them lots of business! I think this is going to be a really great choice for us...
They are also located on Carmel Valley Rd about 8 miles farther East of the Baja Cantina. Please help spread the word so everyone knows...
Are they cutting us a break on the prices because of the large group?
No, as a matter of fact, I'm having to put up a $100 deposit... But they are reserving the whole back half of the restaurant for us..
Jess, I don't even see any Burritos on the menu. They have Quesadillas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Tacos, and Tamales.. Along with a few other burger and salad choices. They also have a 1/2 sandwich and soup selection but it is different every day so we wouldn't know what it is... They also have differene choices on the fajitas... Veggie for $10.98. Steak for $12.98. Combo chicken and steak for $12.98. Or Garlic Prawns for $15.50. (I think Marie had this one last year.
These choices were just from me and Rie looking and trying to find a good cross section. Also tried to figure in price to make sure it is in everyone's budget. I'm open to changes (except for the burger!).
Originally posted by Songman: No, as a matter of fact, I'm having to put up a $100 deposit... But they are reserving the whole back half of the restaurant for us..
What the hell is that about? Last year we showed up, ate off of the full menu, and had seperate checks. Now because you had the decency to call ahead, you have to cough up a deposit (for what?), order off a limited menu, and have one check per table? I know I'm a fan of Baja Cantina, but why do they need to make it such a hassle for you? Are they at least going to reserve us parking?
I appreciate everything you're doing on this, but that's got me irritated for some reason.
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10:05 PM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I actually called ahead and made reservations last year too.. And they did just do one check per table last year as well... I remember this because Bob and Nancy got our lunch and we returned the favor at dinner that night...
I guess the reason for the limited menu is because when we all crammed in at once, along with their normal fairly heavy Saturday morning crowd, they had some problems getting orders filled.. No, I don't like it much either but there is not much I can do about it.
I don't guess they have the ability to reserve parking since they share that parking lot with other businesses. Hopefully we'll be there around the same time as last year and nothing will be open yet and it won't be a problem...
Stimpy, if you find yourself down that way, I'm trying to find a place where we can put all the cars together for a nice panoramic shot after lunch. If we can find a place in Carmel, we'll get all the people who are leaving us after lunch as well as those who are just joining us. The lady at the restaurant suggested Monastery Beach. That is where we lined up last year along the side of the road while waiting for people to get gas. Not ideal, but with a little work we could probably get the cars along the side of the road side by side there. See if you can think of a spot for us. I also considered somewhere over around Pebble Beach but there is a toll to get in there plus very slow speed limits. I don't want to tie up too much time on this after lunch and make us late getting back to San Simeon. People seem to want to relax before dinner.
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10:28 PM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Unfortunately, while there's a lot of scenery down there, theres not a lot of room. Besides Monestary Beach, the only place I can think of is down the coast little further at Garrapata State Park. Lots of room on the side of the road IF there aren't other cars already parked there. Also, you probably won't get much scenery in the backround. Theres some cool places around Monterey, Carmel, Pacific Grove, and Pebble Beach too, but I don't know of any place specifically where we could get all the cars together.
Maybe one of these days Stimpy and I and anyone else who wants to can go scout around.
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12:00 AM
PFF
System Bot
pokeyfiero Member
Posts: 16233 From: Free America! Registered: Dec 2003
What the hell is that about? Last year we showed up, ate off of the full menu, and had seperate checks. Now because you had the decency to call ahead, you have to cough up a deposit (for what?), order off a limited menu, and have one check per table? I know I'm a fan of Baja Cantina, but why do they need to make it such a hassle for you? Are they at least going to reserve us parking?
I appreciate everything you're doing on this, but that's got me irritated for some reason.
I have to agree.I hate being the only one that gets upset.You having to pay a deposit for the right to give them business doesn't sit well with me. they know were coming they can have more help there available.They stand to make a tidy some from us.We should get more not less. I'm no stingy bastard i just think my money should be be earned not expected.
I got issues.
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12:11 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27106 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
Originally posted by Songman: I don't want to tie up too much time on this after lunch and make us late getting back to San Simeon. People seem to want to relax before dinner.
Also remember that daylight savings time is ending soon, and the sun will be going down at around 5 or 5:30. It would be a shame to miss the scenery by driving in the dark.
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12:58 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Absolutely! It seems Rie and I always end up doing the Southern drive in the dark! Not only is it dangerous but you miss all the good views...
I'm not gonna worry about the restaurant as long as everyone can live with the food choices. Maybe we'll end up doing something different next year. It's just tough to find a place with a reasonably priced menu that can also have parking for 25+ cars coming in all at once. We really wanted Bubba Gump's but they were not only unreasonable about their limited menu for groups, the price was outrageous!
A spot for a group picture is my real concern. We'll do individual pictures at Gorda on the way South as last year. I was looking over last year's pictures and the Monastery Beach thing is not gonna work if it is where I think it is. The way it was described to me, it is the place we lined up last year after lunch. Judging from this picture from last year, there is no room there to park side by side, and even if we did there is nothing buy bushes behind us... If you guys can come up with something it would be great.
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01:07 AM
stimpy Member
Posts: 8197 From: Salinas, CA Registered: Jan 2000
If we don't mind doing an "inland" group photo, there is a regional park farther down Carmel Valley Road, It's rather scenic and has a huge parking area.
I don't see you losing out on the deposit, I guess, as the tabs will go well over the hundered dollar mark. I agree with the poke, a hundered bucks should get them to bring in another server or two.
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01:14 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Inland works for me... Would be nice to get beach view somewhere but not likely to happen... Probably don't want to make it too far inland though for the reasons that fierobear mentioned above. Don't guess they let people park on the grass for pictures at this park, huh? That would be cool... Big semi-circle of Fieros on a grassy field.
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01:47 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Inland works for me... Would be nice to get beach view somewhere but not likely to happen... Probably don't want to make it too far inland though for the reasons that fierobear mentioned above. Don't guess they let people park on the grass for pictures at this park, huh? That would be cool... Big semi-circle of Fieros on a grassy field.
Well, it's really not that kind of park. It's a regional park, which means it's several hundered acres of hiking trails/wildlife preserve. It's nice, but not a picnic/frisbee type thing. I can also call Laguna Seca and see if they have anything going on that week, they may let us on to get a group shot near the track.
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01:19 AM
PFF
System Bot
SILVERMIST Member
Posts: 212 From: San Bruno. Ca. USA Registered: Apr 2002
How far away is that? Sounds great to me if they will let us do it. I do want to make sure we are not doing the return trip after dark though... Seems like we got back to San Simeon last year a little after 4:00 and it was still plent light.
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01:52 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27106 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
How far away is that? Sounds great to me if they will let us do it. I do want to make sure we are not doing the return trip after dark though... Seems like we got back to San Simeon last year a little after 4:00 and it was still plent light.
Wasn't last year's run on the 3rd weekend in October? That might have been before the end of daylight savings time.
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02:15 AM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
How far away is that? Sounds great to me if they will let us do it. I do want to make sure we are not doing the return trip after dark though... Seems like we got back to San Simeon last year a little after 4:00 and it was still plent light.
Really not too far. It would be about another 20 minutes to get to, and would take about 10 minutes to get to Highway 1. Consider about an hour added on.
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06:52 PM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
I've found a place that will do a BBQ buffet for us for about $15 per person. From what I hear, the amount of food they bring means that everyone will have plenty!!! Is that an acceptable price? This does not include drinks.
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01:35 PM
PFF
System Bot
Fastback 86 Member
Posts: 7849 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Sep 2003
It's not like we do this every weekend. So mods will have to wait a little longer, but the tummy is happy till the next morning. Now let's talk about breakfast.........see ya all there!!!!
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06:04 PM
indydriver Member
Posts: 233 From: Los Angeles, California, USA Registered: Sep 2002
Songman, The menu they've given you is OK with us. I do think it's odd that they can't accommodate us like any other customers. But all of that has already been said. We're not coming for the food. Looking forward to being amongst our own kind again. Dick and Sandra
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08:53 PM
Bobby Amos Albrecht Member
Posts: 60 From: Lewisburg TN USA Registered: Aug 2002
Hey Dick... Glad you guys are going to be able to make it... Do me a favor if you can and pop on over to the website and fill out the registration form for me. It helps me plan things like caterers, etc....
If anyone knows anyone who has not registered who plans to come, please remind them to register if they can. Of course, it is not required to go on the Run, but I am making plans pretty much on number of people registered. (Meals, goodie bags, etc.)
We've almost got everything in place now. All we gotta do is figure out a place in Carmel to get the pictures done and we are good to go!
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09:18 PM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Hey Dick... Glad you guys are going to be able to make it... Do me a favor if you can and pop on over to the website and fill out the registration form for me. It helps me plan things like caterers, etc....
Duh! You already did! Thanks!
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09:42 PM
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
Where is the run and is it to late to try to make it I'm here in Lewisburg TN let me know I'd like to make it if I can. Bobby!
You've got time, Bobby! But it couldn't be much farther away from you... The Run is on the California Coast between Cambria and Carmel along the Highway 1. If you seriously want to come, send me a PM with any questions you have. If you come, you can tell me all about what is going on in Middle Tennessee in the two years I have been gone from there.
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10:08 PM
Nov 3rd, 2004
Songman Member
Posts: 12496 From: Nashville, TN Registered: Aug 2000
As of this morning, the Baja Cantina is out and the Running Iron Restaurant & Saloon is in!
The owners of the Running Iron have been very helpful. They host large groups quite often. From what I hear you can usually find a bunch of Harleys parked outside in the evenings...
The Running Iron is letting us have a full menu that includes everything from Saturday morning brunch, burgers & sandwiches, salads, 'South of the border' choices, steak and pasta... In addition to letting us have the full menu, they are not requiring a deposit for us to bring them lots of business! I think this is going to be a really great choice for us...
They are also located on Carmel Valley Rd about 8 miles farther East of the Baja Cantina. Please help spread the word so everyone knows...
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01:29 PM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27106 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
Originally posted by Songman: They are also located on Carmel Valley Rd about 8 miles farther East of the Baja Cantina. Please help spread the word so everyone knows...
Be sure to post this in the other thread, too, and include a map. I'll send out the info in an email to our mailing list for Westfest.