For some reason, most of my fondest memories of being a kid are associated either with food or music. Along with the AM radio, Bob's Big Boy played a major roll in the first 15 or so years of my life.
There used to be a Big Boy right down the street from where I grew-up. As a little girl it was a place to go on special occasions or for a special treat to get milk shakes, brownie sundaes, and fried shrimp dinners.
In High School, Bob's was the meeting spot after concerts, dances, and parties. We'd hang out in the parking lot, climb on the back of Bob to get our picture taken, and sneak cigarettes from the machine in the lobby. It was THE place to fraternize with your friend over french fries, kind of like Arnold's, but without Leather Tuscadero.
After too long an exile, Bob is back in Orange County and I couldn't wait to bring my kids and Larry (who knew it as Shoney's Big Boy on the East Coast). I ordered usual, which is the same now as when I was an eight-year old, the child's grilled cheese, fries, and a strawberry silver goblet shake. I'm a little surprised and probably disproportionally happy to report that it was just as good as I remember.
I don't know why exactly, but watching my daughter enjoy her own shake and kid's chili spaghetti (accompanied by the traditional garlic toast) and then declare it "the .best. spaghetti. ever!" gave me a thrill. Like I knew some sort of pop culture mythos was going to live on.
Now, here is the big question that has torn Bob's Big Boy enthusiasts apart for decades, pitting traditionalists against progressives: Do you dip your fries in your shake or not?
Personally, I'm a french fry shake dipper. I love it. So does my daughter, but the act never fails to produce cringes and shudders from the male side of the table. If you have an opinion, please, by all means, weigh in on the matter.
I give the return of Bob's Big Boy a big thumbs-up accompanied by a Fonzie-style "Aaayyy." Now, if only we can get Naugles, Pup-n-Taco, and the lunch counter at Buffum's to come back to OC, then I'd be in retro '70s heaven.
We missed you too big guy. We missed you, too.
✻✻✻✻✻✻
Read my story about Bob's Big Boy's strawberry silver goblet shake:
…and I never cried again. Not really.
✻
You can go to my Blip.Fm channel to listen to Peaches and Herb's
For me, it was Shoney’s strawberry pie. But over here on the east coast, we never heard of dipping your fries in your shake. Hmmm.
This is so cute Suz. I am so happy you are reunited, and it feels so good ;0
I have never dipped my fries in a shake, I am not opposed to it, I just never thought to do it.
Suz
Ahhhh. Yes. Shoney’s. Such good times. So not fair though. You all have this and In n Out. Not fair! Whining.
I DEFINITELY dip my fries… that the ONLY way.
xoxo, K
A big eeewwwww on the french fry dipping in a milkshake. But whatever floats your boat right? I am so excited that Bob’s is back! My kids have wanted to go there forever, and I do mean forever. I have the menu and a strawberry shake hanging on my wall, if you remember my Uncle Del did some artwork for them. Such great memories of hanging out in High School there.
Nope.. only dipped my fries in the blue cheese dressing. BOB’s was where I went when I ditched my one and only class in H.S. Susan Alvarez and I went and had breakfast. It was great. Where is the new BBB?
Chili Spaghetti from Bob’s was my childhood. We still need to go there. My parents love that place. Although my dad will want to drive one of his many classic cars.
Keli: Sorry I just linked to it. It’s in Anaheim, right down the street from Honda Center and Angel’s Stadium.
Definitely a fry dipper. So is the hubby and kids. I’ve never been to Bob’s Big Boy, so I think I’ll have to check it out next trip up there.
i recall dipping fries in a “side of hot fudge” too.
I am a fry dipper! My fav shake to dip fries in is chocolate. I remember Bobs when I was a kid too. We’d go there for special occasions when I lived in San Diego. I went to the one in Temecula recently. We were just driving through and when I saw the Big Boy I made my husband turn around and we had lunch there. And take lots of pics 😀
Hey Suz, You’re killin’ me here! Where do I even begin? We also had a Bob’s down the street from our house in Torrance. In high school, my death rock (now called goth) friends and I used to walk over there late at night to chainsmoke cigarettes, talk about sex and music, share a hot fudge cake and drink tons of coffee (you only pay had to pay for the first cup). The old folks used to stare openly at us, so maybe we were the “Leather Tuscadero” crowd yours was missing. Ha! Yes, I am a fry dipper too. Always have been. Always will be. I prefer vanilla shakes with my fries though. I was truly excited when Bob’s opened on Katella and couldn’t wait to have my boys experience it’s magic. The hot fudge cake was exactly as I remembered it. Other than that it was a real let down for me. I left there wishing I had never gone because somehow it tainted my memories. I felt like I was in a Children’s Hospital cafeteria. The decor was just all wrong for Bob’s (or any restaurant for that matter). I knew it wouldn’t have those familiar wood-paneled walls and cozy red booths, but I thought they would at least try to capture the same essence. Is it crazy to think Bob’s had an essence? The worst part was the big TV’s on the walls. They had two of them turned to CNN with images of war and people running through the streets and the third was set to a ball game. It felt kind of twisty and uncomfortable eating decadent ice cream cake while images of bombings and baseball loomed overhead. Too Clockwork Orange for me. I won’t go back.
Naugles was a favorite late night hang-out for the drag racing crowd in Torrance. I may have raced my Nova there once or twice, but please don’t tell my kids!
Pup ‘N’ Taco is a huge part of my childhood. I blogged about it many moons ago. (http://kekebucks.blogspot.com/2008/05/bite-one-you-love.html) I love that you remember it fondly too.
Reunited by Peaches & Herb was the only song I ever dedicated to a boy (Quentin Magette) on the radio. It was 6th garde and the station was called the Mighty 690! Did you know that the triple platinum “Reunited” was nominated for a Song of the Year Grammy Award in 1980? Another interesting bit of trivia…. there were six different women who sang as Peaches, but there was only one Herb.
I’m hogging the comment section so I’ll save my memories of department store lunch counters for another day. Love you Suz! Thanks for bringing back such fun memories this morning.
I dip my fries in soft serve ice cream. Yum!!
I’m a dipper. Fries in shakes that is. It’s just the right thing to do. Its been so long since I’ve been to a Bob’s Big Boy I can’t even remember the last time! Cute post!
I don’t dip. But, it’s so good to hear that Bob’s Big Boy is back. Can’t wait to pay him a visit.
in many ways the Big Boy never left….(this is from Westley)
Yippee!!! I can’t wait to go home to OC and go to Bob’s Big Boy! I have so many memories of Bob’s. I also miss Nagules,farrell’s ice cream, Sambo’s, Pup n Taco, Highway 39 drive-in, Circle City dance club, The Cuckoo’s Nest/Concert Factory etc etc 🙂
Oh the memories of going to high school in fountain Valley during the 1980’s and hitting up the Naugles on Brookhurst after the parties.
Awesome post sue, thank’s for the heads up!
By the way “I’ve been to Buffum’s” 🙂
A few weeks ago I did a nostalgic Bob’s Big Boy post here. On my Newtown blog.
I think Bob might have had some work done while he was away. I mean he looks really too good for his age don’t you think?
🙂
Happy he is back.
And I may or may not have been involved with a Senior prank to put Bob on the roof of the school once upon a time. Not a confession. Just sayin.
I dip one fry just cuz, but it really does nothing for me. I noticed Bob’s when I saw a movie there recently, but I bypassed it to go to Joe’s Italian Ice on Harbor just south of D-Land. You gotta try a Joe Latti if you haven’t. . . . and hey, no mention of Farrell’s returning?
Totally remember this from when I was a kid. My dad loved it. Maybe next time he’s in town we’ll have to come down for a walk down memory lane! You and Marcy kill me with the memories.
Not a fry dipper. But Bob’s is coming to Morro Bay, too. There must be a worldwide Bob’s resurgence!
And as for Buffum’s, besides the lunch counter, I also want those Buffum’s gift boxes back! Remember the REAL boxes they had? Not the yucky fold-up ones like everybody else, but actual sturdy shiny boxes. Sigh.
I’m hoping that Shoney’s will follow suit. I always LOVED that Big Boy!!!
Fries in your shake? **shudder**
I have never been! I have heard of it so many times, but there has never been one near us, but I would love to try it. The french fry shake dipping! We were JUST talking about this a couple days ago – while I have never tried it my husband and sister swear it is the way to do it. I dont know, sounds a bit strange, but I will always try anything new (unless it contains gobs of mayo, yuck!)
Fries fipped in shake? No, it has never entered my mind. Sorry, never. Your colour palette matches the 70´s retro so perfectly.
Thanks for settling a dispute just now. I found your blog when a friend had doubts Shoney’s had anything to do with Bob’s. She’s got your link now, and I’m thrilled you’re in O.C.. My friend and I are both high school buddies from there, and we share the same wonderful memories from the Van Nuy’s Big Boy when we both grew up in the Valley when we didn’t know each other.
I think you can be happy without peace of mind. You can have conflicts with people or constantly perceiving the fore coming of conflict and still be happy. I think it depends entirely on the person and that no generic formula can represent a person accurately 100 percent. A NASCAR driver constantly risking his or her life, racing at high speeds just for the “rush” associated with it. Risking his/her life doesn’t exactly fit the definition of “peace of mind.” A consciencness of complete self fuliment or just simply doing what makes you happy seems to be a more precise pillar.
Thanks for settling a dispute just now. I found your blog when a friend had doubts Shoney’s had anything to do with Bob’s. She’s got your link now, and I’m thrilled you’re in O.C.. My friend and I are both high school buddies from there, and we share the same wonderful memories from the Van Nuy’s Big Boy when we both grew up in the Valley when we didn’t know each other.