Im new to Bakersfield, but I can understand the excitement of something new coming here. Its a market that is way underserved. Bakersfield is like a teenager in the sense its become a large city, but has the mind of a small city. In many states 325,000 is one of the largest cities. Keep the openings coming! Claim Jumper anyone?

I am fully aware that these chain restaurants follow the money.  But there must be some money on the northeast side of town.  Nothing new there except the occasional fast food joint.  We live in Kernville and like many hundreds of us come to Bakersfield as often as once or twice a week.  Some of our worker-bees are there every day.  The east side is building.  Soon there will be lots of residents, and some astute restaurateur will suddenly see the growth and say "I wish I had built a restaurant there".  We hope so soon.

Chain chain chain...Chain of fools.  Chains serve flavorless, yet salty cardboard gruel. Support locally owned eateries.  I would like to know what locally owned restaurants use local produce.  They certainly would get my business.

It brings something new to do here in town, simple as that. 

New?  Eating isn't new, Prince.  Dining may be something new to town.  Nothing fancy, mind you - just delicious and enjoyable.  Stay away from the chains and explore the local eateries.  More charater and more flavor.  THAT is something to do.

Yes, eating in a place that is NEW to Bakersfield is a NEW experience.

The East Side could certainly use a good coffee shop type restaurant.  The only one I know of is Cindy's and the last few times I was there it was pretty bad.  Two of us ordered diced ham and scrambled eggs there and the cook put garlic in them.  Geeezzzzz...you don't do that in a breakfast venue without letting people know.  And no, it wasn't usual.  Yuck.

If anyone knows of a good coffee shop over there give a holler.  Clarks is good but a bit out of the way.

You're right, Nancy.  The eastside is lacking.  The only thing that comes to mind is 24th Street; but that's only east of Chester.  Perhaps you have found a need for someone to fulfill.

When you live out by Rio Bravo, the 24th ST. Cafe is way too far away.  There used to be one on Niles St. named Corkeys, and a couple on Baker..back in the day that is.  Hopefully someone will see that need..but I wouldn't hold my breath.  Baks is too set on chains like Claim Jumpers and forget some of us like plain old okie breakfasts.

NancyII - have you tried the fare at the Kern River Golf Course?  I have no idea what that might be like now.  Rio Bravo used to be a blast; but that has gone the way of the bulldozer.

May..I've never been to the golf course out there.  I don't live near there but the grandkids just bought a house out in Tuscany Villas and we've been hunting a place to meet for breakfast.  Last week was Sugarmill.  Their choice.  A drive for them but close for me.

Lorenes downtown is about the best bet centrally since the 24th St Cafe is always packed and sometimes there's a slew of us.

Nancy, if your grand kids just bought a house out at Tuscany Villas, they can afford the gas to go see their grandma. :)

And I strongly recommend The Red Pepper for a late morning Sunday breakfast.

OB..it's BECAUSE they bought a house out in Tuscany Villas that they can't afford the gas.  LOL.   Does the Red Pepper have biscuits and gravy?  We're just old okie folks ya know.

Both of them are teachers.  He's a fourth or fifth year high school math teacher and she's a second year middle school science teacher.  They're pretty fgood with their money.  Also..they're the ones who had their apts door kicked in and computers, guns etc stolen.  They'd had enough of that and started looking to buy.

Thanks for the tip on the Red Pepper.

I remember you telling us about them getting their apartment burglarized. And no, The RP doesn't have B&G. But they do have great chili verde omelettes.

Buscuits and gravy---try the Speedway Market out on James Road by the Bakersfield Speedway.  It ain't fancy, but the locals love it!  Also in Oildale, the Knotty Pine and Kelly's will serve up plenty of that Okie Fare you crave.  On the eastside, there is always Cindy's on Auburn; but I can't bare any testimonial.

I don't care much for the Knotty Pine and haven't been to Kellys since it was Dirty Bobs.  I don't usually go for breakfast unless it's with the family and when I'm by myself I make my own biscuits and gravy.  I didn't know about the store on James Road but you can get good cheap breakfast at Brookside Deli's too.  The one on Calloway is good and fast.  When I'm home I don't usually eat breakfast at all.

My son likes Tina Maries downtown and it's so-so to me.  The Village Grill on F St. is good but sloooooow service.  My personal favorite is Milts but breakfast is breakfast in my eyes as long as the cafe has a decent breakfast cook.

The East Side is still without a good coffee shop place to eat.  My choice over there is Clarks on Weedpatch Hwy.  After garlic in my scrambled eggs, I won't eat at Cindys again.  I do like Carrows but then, it's a chain.   Speaking of Carrows, they have an AWESOME pot roast.