Peggy Sue's - San Jose

We stopped by this restaurant because we had limited time before heading to a show at the theater. The service was a bit on the slow side. They do have a full bar, but unfortunately, there was no bartender available. Additionally, the restroom ran out of toilet paper, even though several customers informed the manager about it. He seemed overwhelmed with taking and calling out orders, as well as managing the bar. Poor guy. However, the burgers here are truly amazing! That's why I'm giving it a solid 4 stars. They're flavorful and cooked to perfection. They even offer lettuce-wrapped burgers. The menu also includes salads, milkshakes, soups, and hot dogs—everything you'd expect from a diner. I would definitely come back!

I ended up at Peggy Sue's since Our House On Park Ave is closed on Sundays. I was intrigued by the cute name and the diner vibe. I can only speak to the burger and fries, although the menu has a lot more to offer. Unfortunately, the burger was mediocre at best. It lacked flavor, and I couldn't understand why they even asked how I wanted it cooked, as the patty was so thin that it came out well done. This was the blandest burger I've ever had, and the fries were unseasoned as well. The texture of both items felt like low-quality food, and the prices were surprisingly high for what you get. I cannot recommend Peggy Sue's burgers. If you're looking for a burger, I'd rate Johnny Rockets five stars in comparison to this place. Original Joe's just around the corner serves real burgers, and I wish I had gone there instead. If you're a burger lover, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Entering Peggy Sue's feels like stepping back in time. With its black-and-white checkered floor, red vinyl seats, and Formica tabletops, the ambiance is reminiscent of a scene from "American Graffiti." The walls are adorned with nostalgic 1950s memorabilia: black-and-white photos of icons like James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Marilyn Monroe, along with classic advertisements and images of historical events from that era. Ordering is done at the counter, with the menu and prices displayed overhead, paying upfront in a fast-food style. They offer no less than 12 different types of burgers! In the hot summer months, I often order the $9.55 Chicken Fajita Salad, while my wife opts for the $9.45 Hollywood chicken sandwich. I have to remember to request the dressing on the side and eliminate the olives and sour cream. It's one of the few places where there's a $1.50 charge to substitute chicken for a black Angus burger. We usually wait around 20 minutes for our order, which feels slow, especially on a night when the restaurant is only half full. The salad arrives on a large plate, heaped with freshly cooked sliced chicken, red peppers, avocado, onions, green peppers, and black beans, all on a warm flour tortilla. The tortilla adds crunch, and the hot chicken contrasts nicely with the cold lettuce. The dressing has a zesty kick and is creamier than a typical vinaigrette. I barely manage to finish it, using a knife and fork since tackling this massive wrap would be quite messy! My wife's Hollywood chicken sandwich features a generous slice of chicken breast, avocado, tomato, raw onions, lettuce, and pineapple on a bun. She always gives me her raw onions, and sometimes I let her have a significant bite of my salad—it’s that large! I’m usually not picky about cleanliness, but even my ex would agree that my bathroom is cleaner than Peggy Sue's. The floor is often littered with crumbs from families with messy kids, and they take their time cleaning tables, often sweeping food remnants right onto the checkered floor. I enjoy the pineapple burgers, dislike the fries, and love the onion rings. Burgers don't come with fries, making them a bit pricey for what feels like a dive. One time, I dropped part of a bun on my dark shirt, which left me looking like I had dandruff from the crumbs. Another time, while wearing white pants, I got a black dirt spot from the unclean table, which probably hadn't seen a cleaning since 1962! Parking validation is only available on weekends and specifically for Cityview parking; you have to pay the $8 on weekdays. Neither my wife nor my ex would come here without the free validation. And that, folks, is why I often call ahead to Scott's Seafood!

This was a short walk from our hotel, with a few outdoor tables with umbrellas for a pet friendly establishment. The interior was a 50s theme. The menu also had mostly sandwiches, soup, burgers and milkshakes. We ordered a BLT w/avocado and fish and chips. Out BLT was great. The fish gets a C- but the fries were very nice, crispy on the outside tender inside. I peeked at another order and saw a sandwich just as thick and delicious looking as ours. The counter lady was friendly and helpful. We recommend this for lunch or a quick dinner. They also serve breakfast. They allow free refills of soda fountain drinks.

I've tried this place a few times, hoping the next one will be good enough. Naw. The service was friendly which was why we got a few stars then I subtracted some cause the food was meh. I already knew I haven't had much luck with the burgers (overcooked or bland or such) so went with the hot link this time. I liked that! It was served with some diced tomato and onion. Saw the hype about the world's best shake so snagged one of those too. It was ok! The usual huge portion of that so if you like shakes, they got ya covered there! They also have a full bar now with a special on shots till end of December. I really hope the place figures out their niche cause having a fun retro diner downtown is neat! But we have other retro looking diners downtown so competition!