Spotlight Bites, KHTS’ new feature centering on local eateries, focuses its first episode on Saugus Cafe, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles County that is still operational.

Saugus Cafe, originally named the Tolfree Saugus Eating House, first opened in 1888 and has now been open for 132 years.

Saugus Cafe opened at a time when the town of Newhall, named after Henry Mayo Newhall, was growing rapidly due to the construction of the South Pacific Rail Network connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles, which passed by the area. 

The restaurant was opened by James Herbert Tolfree and was located near the Saugus train station. Tolfree sold the restaurant, along with a portion of land, to brothers Richard and Martin Wood in 1899. The brothers shortened the name of the restaurant to the Saugus Cafe, according to SCV History.

Martin would go on to manage the restaurant and eventually move the cafe to where it stands today.

Over the course of its history, the restaurant has served many famed historical figures, including William Mulholland, John Wayne, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, William S. Hart and Charlie Chaplin. Additionally, presidents Benjamin Harrison and Theodore Roosevelt dropped in for bites at the eatery, with Roosevelt allegedly calling his New York-style steak “splendid”.

The cafe was completely remodeled and expanded in 1925. In 1936, under new manager Fielding S. Wood, a short-lived fast food drive-thru annex was added to the building. It was destroyed before any customers could be served through it in a collision with a truck driver in 1941.

See Related: L.A. County Board Of Supervisors Uphold Temporary Shutdown Of Outdoor Dining

In 1994, Karen and David Nardiello bought the property and renovated it. After that acquisition, Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Barrymore entered the restaurant to shoot part of a film there.

Saugus Cafe is known for having a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Their menu includes traditional breakfast foods like steak and eggs, pancakes, sausage and omelets. Burgers and sandwiches are available on the lunch menu. 

The cafe’s most popular dish is the country fried steak, which is on the dinner menu.

The restaurant has great reviews as well, with customers praising their friendly service, good food, great prices and nostalgia.

Saugus Cafe promises to continue serving hearty meals at a reasonable price in its signature homey atmosphere. The diner is located at 25861 Railroad Ave. in Newhall. Visit the website here.

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