Head To The Suburbs Of Northern California To Visit Mac’s Old House, A Charming, Old-Fashioned Restaurant
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin|Published September 20, 2022
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Author
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.
You can find almost any kind of restaurant in the suburbs – national chains, upscale A-list establishments, quaint bakeries, greasy spoons, and so on. But there’s just something about an old-fashioned restaurant that’s been a neighborhood icon for what seems like forever – so much so that your grandparents still frequent or talk about it. Come along as we explore this Northern California ‘burb favorite that still draws folks in after all these years.
Mac’s Old House is located at 3100 E. 18th St. in Antioch, CA, a suburb on the east side of the San Francisco Bay Area approximately a 45-minute drive from Berkeley.
If you blink you might miss it, as—except for the sign out front—it looks just like a home your elders may have purchased decades ago. And that’s part of the story. In 1925 its namesake Floyd "Mac" McKinney built the home, and a little over 25 years later part of it was converted into a bar.
Fast forward through the past almost 100 years and the property has changed hands a few times, the current ownership taking over and making it an official full-fledged restaurant in the late 1980s.
Today you’ll find multigenerational family members from all over the area where the restaurant sits, as well as newcomers and tourists passing through, who come to enjoy the classic setting and traditional old-fashioned family-style dinners.
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A staple at any old-fashioned restaurant is definitely minestrone soup.
Cooked to order, it is one of the most popular entrees. If you’re a big eater, order the extra cut (and be sure to loosen your belt!). Carnivore specialties also encompass ground round and ribeye steaks, as well as succulent grilled chicken breasts, and old-world pasta dishes.
Other fish options include salmon and calamari steaks. All meals include Mac’s hot baked bread, minestrone soup, fresh sautéed vegetables, pasta, and salad. The drinks here are another old-world element, simply stated on the menu as Singles, Doubles, Triples, and Calls - and at throwback prices too!
Another old-fashioned restaurant aspect here? Mac’s is still a cash-only establishment! Now how’s that for a neighborhood relic?
A classic setting, traditional old-fashioned family-style dinners, and a warm neighborly welcome. That’s just the beginning of what you’ll experience at Mac’s Old House!
Have you eaten at Mac’s Old House? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experience there. You can also see more photos on their Facebook page.