Fallbrook Cafe: Quality and freshness key to success

Quality products combined with extensive experience in the restaurant industry is what has led to John Gianakakos’ success with Fallbrook Cafe. Over his career, this accomplished restauranteur has created numerous popular dining establishments, including Cafe Plaka, in Southern California. Loyal clients from those spots still travel regularly to Fallbrook to enjoy his eatery. And with good reason.

“We pride ourselves in quality; quality is important,” said Gianakakos. That is expressed at Fallbrook Cafe in that many items are homemade and that is why locals feel like eating there is like going home for a good meal.

The head chef, fondly called “Chef Go” (Gomez) explained that many items are handcrafted for the best dining experience possible.

All salad dressings are made from scratch, using special house recipes. While many restaurants serve ready-to-use commercial dressings that contain many preservatives including excessive sugar, that is not the case at Fallbrook Cafe, evidenced by the obvious fresh taste experience.

Homemade soups, gravies, and spaghetti sauce, as well as freshly-made tuna, chicken and turkey salads, potato salad, and cole slaw are what keep customers returning for more each week.

Chef Go said using quality ground chuck (never frozen) is what sets Fallbrook Cafe’s hamburgers, meat loaf, and chili apart from the competition. There is no substitute for good meat with a low fat factor, he said. That is also why the chef roasts his own turkeys and chickens to use in the cafe’s dishes.

Potatoes used in the restaurant must be from Idaho, it’s required, according to both owner and chef. “Idaho potatoes are not as watery as others and that makes a difference. We make our own mashed potatoes.”

In a world where substitute products are common in order to cut corners, the proof of quality is in the use of real butter and whipping cream at Fallbrook Cafe. Good quality pancake and waffle syrup is another accompaniment that must meet exact specification. “It cannot have a high level of corn syrup,” they said. “We pride ourselves in buying a better quality.”

The taste difference in breakfast at Fallbrook Cafe is notable and there is a good reason for that. It begins with the aroma of freshly-ground coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice, and continues with the custom egg dishes. “We use coconut griddle fry to cook all of our eggs and omelets,” the owner explained. “Eggs and omelets prepared in restaurants that use canola oil and other types of oil have a certain after-taste and smell.” Another quality difference is that all eggs used in the cafe are provided fresh by a nearby Escondido ranch.

In a restaurant where the menu is extensive and all dishes meet the quality requirement, the highest volume selections are omelets, pancakes, hamburgers, hot turkey sandwiches, chicken pot pie, charbroiled New York steak, fish and chips, and chicken parmesan. And that is only the beginning of the taste journey!

Prices in this family-friendly restaurant are very competitive as well as a distinct bargain, given the quality ingredients which are never sacrificed.

Fallbrook Cafe is located at 739 E. Mission Rd.