Road Trip Surprises

Not much to Sandra's Place, a small, innocuous restaurant in Gallup, NM.  But the food was
excellent, the wait staff were friendly and we left pleased and with another good memory of
Route 66.  (click to enlarge)

When on a road trip, some of my favorite surprises are the unexpected discoveries of people and places which are just delightful.  During my recent ‘coast-to-coast and back’ road trip this past May, which included the full length of Route 66, there were many of those unexpected and enjoyable finds.

Gallup, New Mexico is not tiny but more of a moderate size.  The population is about 21,000 people.  It is located along Historic Route 66, about 20 miles east of the Arizona border.  Interstate 40 runs along the north side of the railroad while the old city is generally on the south side.  I've now visited Gallup several times.  This last time, we (two life long friends and I) stayed in the historic El Rancho Hotel.  The El Rancho is where all the 'movie stars' stayed when they filmed westerns in the area.  However, as historic and nice as the El Rancho is, that was not the surprise.  The pleasant surprise was just down the street from the El Rancho.

When we departed the El Rancho to continue our road trip west, we looked for a place to have breakfast.  We found Sandra's Place listed on the Internet with many good ratings.  Okay, we'll stop there.  Well, Sandra's Place was is so innocuous, I drove right by it.  Turning around, I pulled into the parking lot and just looked at the building, trying to decide whether or not we 'really' wanted to eat there.  Why not?  We went inside to see what we would find.  

Sandra's Place is tiny.  The outside is adobe in color.  There were bars on the windows and front door.  Hmmm?  What kind of place needs bars?  Going inside we found it clean, interestingly furnished with only about 10 tables and a small counter in the back at which one could choose to sit.  All around the inside there were posters, signs and laminated paper with restaurant "rules" as well as funny sayings.  Quite entertaining.  The items on the menu looked tantalizing.  After we ordered, we passed the time waiting for breakfast by reading the sayings that were everywhere.

Maybe 10 tables and a small counter at which to sit.
(click to enlarge)

The food was plentiful and tasty, coffee satisfying and the wait staff were friendly, helpful and accommodating.  I asked if it would be alright to make a few photos inside and received a smile and a yes.  However, one of the posted restaurant rules was not to photograph the employees so I made my images at a strategic time when the employees' faces were hidden.

Sandra's Place is the kind of serendipitous find that I really enjoy.  Small, not fancy, but with friendly and helpful staff.  But as you can read and see, the place made an impression on me.  The next time I drive through Gallup, I will stop again and enjoy another good meal.

About 5 stools at the counter.  Those pink pieces
of paper are "Rules" and menus.
(click to enlarge)

We found several places such as this on our cross-country road trip.  I try not to eat at 'chain' or fancy restaurants, but smaller locally owned ones.  As much fun as a road trip itself is, finding delightful people and places only serve to increase my pleasure and leave me with additional good memories.

Sandra's Place is one of those places where the old phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover," certainly applies.  We would have never known about it nor, if we did, would have gone in just from looking at the front door.  We may have chosen another place to have a meal.  But don't.  Go in, enjoy the food and the banter from the staff and and the surroundings.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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