Ole's Waffle Shop

Pros: Solid breakfast spot with classic menu offerings.
Cons: There's a permanent line of folks waiting out the door on weekends.

Ole's Waffle Shop is a classic breakfast spot that hasn't changed in forever. I know they're old school because their menu features a variation of the Dieter's Plate, which includes a hamburger patty, scoops of cottage cheese, and slices of beets. And...

Pros: Mysterious long lines may discourage you from wasting your time & money.
Cons: Frozen-concentrate juice. Bad coffee. Insipid waffles. Artificial syrup. Did I mention the burnt-orange plastic decor?

I'll come right out and say it: Ole's sucks. Yes, sucks. It is, in my opinion, a joke of a diner, stuck in the 50's with 1960's notions of culinary quality. You remember food in the 60's, don't you? You know: Tang, and Hamburger...

Pros: Good dependable food, reasonable prices, great service.
Cons: Deserts are treated like an after-thought. Grungy atmosphere, cramped surroundings. Aggravating lines on the weekend.

Forget going to Ole's on a weekend before 1:30 in the afternoon. The lines are abysmal. The lines are a result of few traditional restaurants in Alameda downtown, not due to a superb dining experience.

For larger persons (I'm over 6'4") the seating is too cramped.

The atmosphere is dingy and dark. Waitresses are great, considering the crowds and mayhem that can go on in the small working area.

If you want an old fashioned breakfast, or reasonable dinner food Ole's can fill the bill. The flavors are all traditional, you won't find any surprises in the menu. Meatloaf, Hot Turkey sandwiches, burgers are all pedestrian fair.

Absolutely stay away from the dessert pies. They have a "left-over-from-the-church-faire-after-sitting-in-the-sun" quality.

Honest, the crusts are soggy, the fillings over-sweetened, have off-flavors, and the cream pies have a spongy creme on top the consistency of wet spackle.

Too bad, because this kind of dining begs for a strong desert finish.

Jim's Coffee Shop, just a few doors down, offers the same brand of diner-food experience, but they have livelier flavors, a top rate help, brighter atmosphere and terrific deserts.

I can only give Ole's a guarded recommendation.