FILE: An aerial view of Sausalito on a golden morning with the Golden Gate Bridge peaking over the hillside.
For some San Franciscans (i.e. me), Sausalito seems far away. A hassle. A place for rich locals and admiring tourists. While the drive north across the Golden Gate Bridge is magical, the views from Tiburon or the top of Mount Tamalpais are breathtaking, and the upscale downtown has a sweeping, beautiful waterfront, the idea of spending the day in an affluent tourist town makes one think that the only good thing to eat there will be an overpriced, underwhelming piece of fish or fried Brussels sprouts that can be found on pretty much any menu. That’s why I set out to uncover where the locals in Sausalito actually eat.
The former mining town is now a mix of old school and new school. You can get your tasting menu fix at Ditas, helmed by a French Laundry alum, but also tuck into a homey breakfast at Fred’s Place, an American diner that has been open since 1966. There are many tourist attraction restaurants in the small, affluent town, but there are also some old standbys that still give it staying power and charm.
Fred’s Place in Sausalito, Calif.
A photo of Fred Peters, the original of proprietor of Fred’s Place, hangs on the wall of the restaurant in Sausalito, Calif.
An interior shot of Fred’s Place in Sausalito, Calif.
Fred’s Place, located at 1917 Bridgeway, feels like the doors to a cozy living room. On a recent rainy morning, I made my way into town and down windy Bridgeway, taking in the views of the Marina on my left and houses in the hills to the right, and knew I’d arrived when I saw the bright yellow awning peaking out from the fog.
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The small corner building is as old-school as you will find in Sausalito. There is still a picture of the original owner, Fred Peters, by the front door. Peters, who passed away in 1988, was a character known for “tossing out quips” and “joshing with the employees” while flipping eggs, frying mountains of potatoes and working the register all at once. Inside, it almost looked like a grandma’s dining room, with round and oval shaped wooden tables that can each sit six. On the walls were photo collages of regular customers and sun-kissed sailboats, their edges faded. In one corner, I spotted an old-timer in a Navy hat sipping coffee, and by the window, a middle-aged man worked on his laptop. I sat at the counter overlooking the cooking station and took in the menu, which consisted of classic diner food — pancakes, omelettes, scrambles and eggs Benedict.
Two eggs, hash browns and “Fred’s Sweet Bacon” at Fred’s Place........