Peggy Sue's - San Jose

We stopped here because we only had a short amount of time before we see a show at the theater. The service is a bit slow. They have a full bar but no bartender. The bathroom didn't have any TP because even though people told the manager they needed TP, he was too busy taking orders, calling out orders and bartending. Poor guy. But... the burgers are pretty amazing!!! That's why I'm giving it 4 stars. It's full of flavor and cooked well. They can make burgers lettuce-wrapped. They have salads, milkshakes, soups, hotdogs, everything a diner would have. I'd definitely return.

I ended to here because Our House On Park Ave is closed on Sundays so I thought I'd try Peggy Sue's. Cute name cute diner. I can only comment on the Burger and Fries. The menu offers much much more. Burger Mediocre at best. Burger has no flavor. Not sure why they ask how you like it because the patty cooked because it is so thin in cooks up well done. This is the most bland burger I've ever had and the fries have no seasoning either. Texture of both seem like a very poor quality meal however the price is high for what you get. I would NOT recommend Peggy Sues burgers. Similar to a Johnny Rockets I think Johnny Rocks is 5 Stars compared to this place. Original Joes around the corner offers real burgers. I wish I had gone there. Keep walking if you're a burger lover.

Where were you in 62? Or where do you go eat before going to attend a Broadway show at the nearby San Jose Center for the Performing Arts, when Scotts Seafood is full? We always park at the Cityview Parking Garage, right across from the Tech Museum, for fast getaways after the show. Both Scott's Seafood and Peggy Sue's validate the $8 parking on weekends. There are no more other similarities. Scott's seafood is a classy dress up place, whereas I'm overdressed in shorts, sandals and T-shirt for Peggy Sue's! Usually I call Scott's to see if they have an opening at 5pm before the 630pm sunday show. If yes, then I wear black slacks and a collared polo shirt, which is dress up for me. If no, then I go in my usual stay at home clothes, to save room in the washer. Entering the restaurant is like stepping back in time. Black and white checkered floor, red vinyl seats and formica table tops, with Del Shannon crooning on the airways. It's like a scene out of American Graffiti -where were you in 62!? The walls are covered with 1950s nostalgia: black and whites of James Dean, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Willie Mays in a New York Giant uniform, 1950s ads from Macys, pictures of the Edsel, Queen Elizabeth 2's coronation, the first Corvettes, the first Thunderbirds, and on and on. Customers go up to the counter and place their orders, with the menu and prices listed overhead, and pay beforehand, fast food style. There are no less than 12 different types of burgers! In the hot summers I almost always get the $9.55 Chicken Fajita Salad, while the wife gets a $9.45 Hollywood chicken sandwich. I have to remember to have the dressing on the side, and delete the olives and sour cream. One of the few places where they charge you a $1.50 to substitute chicken for black angus burger. We wait a good 20 minutes before they called our number, so service was definitely on the slow side, and this on an evening with the place half empty. The salad comes on a large plate, with a heaping of just cooked and sliced chicken, over red peppers, avocado, onions, green peppers, black beans, all over a just cooked flour tortilla. The tortilla gives the dish crunchiness, and the hot chicken contrasts well with the cold lettuce. Dressing has a bit of a kick and is creamier than the normal vinaigrette dressing. I just barely finish it. I eat the salad with a knife and fork, as eating this monster as a wrap is asking for trouble! Wife's Hollywood chicken sandwich comes with a slab of chicken breast, avocado, tomato, raw onions, lettuce and pineapple on a bun. She always gives me the raw onions, and sometimes I will let her take a substantial bite out of my salad, it is that big! Usually I'm not too particular about the cleanliness of establishments, but even my ex would agree that my bath room is cleaner than Peggy Sue's. Food crumbs on the floor common from the last family with slobs for kids. They are slow to clean the tables, and just wiping the food particles right off the tables onto the checkerboard patterned black and white floor. I like the pineapple burgers, hate the fries, pass on the regular burgers, and love the onion rings. Burgers come without fries, so they are very pricey for such a dump. One time I dropped part of a bun on my dark shirt, and the powder from the bun made me look like I had a bad case of dandruff. Another time, wearing white pants, I got a black dirt spot from the bottom of the table, which probably hadn't been cleaned since 1962! The free parking validation applies only on weekends, and only for Cityview parking. You got to pay your own $8 on weekdays. Wife and ex wife would not come here without the free validation. Now you know why I call ahead to Scott's Seafood!

This was a short walk from our hotel, with a few outdoor tables with umbrellas for a pet friendly establishment. The interior was a 50s theme. The menu also had mostly sandwiches, soup, burgers and milkshakes. We ordered a BLT w/avocado and fish and chips. Out BLT was great. The fish gets a C- but the fries were very nice, crispy on the outside tender inside. I peeked at another order and saw a sandwich just as thick and delicious looking as ours. The counter lady was friendly and helpful. We recommend this for lunch or a quick dinner. They also serve breakfast. They allow free refills of soda fountain drinks.

I've tried this place a few times, hoping the next one will be good enough. Naw. The service was friendly which was why we got a few stars then I subtracted some cause the food was meh. I already knew I haven't had much luck with the burgers (overcooked or bland or such) so went with the hot link this time. I liked that! It was served with some diced tomato and onion. Saw the hype about the world's best shake so snagged one of those too. It was ok! The usual huge portion of that so if you like shakes, they got ya covered there! They also have a full bar now with a special on shots till end of December. I really hope the place figures out their niche cause having a fun retro diner downtown is neat! But we have other retro looking diners downtown so competition!