Love and legacy fuel Nini's

A walk inside the simple coffee shop reveals a small L shaped room in which second generation owner Rick Swartz and his staff have worked their culinary magic since 1973. Nini's has a longer history though, starting in 1955 as a San Francisco diner run by Swartz's parents.

"It was their great personalities and hot lunch specials which brought people in," said Swartz.

Two locations later, Nini's continues to bring them in. Swartz's parents, after opening the San Mateo spot in 1968, ran it for a few years before retiring. They moved into a small apartment above the restaurant for the rest of their lives, occasionally coming down to help bake a pie or just talk with customers.

"They laid down the foundation and I've built on it," said Swartz.

And built on it he has. From the original small coffee shop, Nini's expanded to include a slightly larger dining area and heated garden patio. Each provides for an eclectic eating experience, with décor ranging from a giant carved wooden bear and license plates outside to a mounted marlin and old Swartz family photos hanging on the interior walls.

While expanding the restaurant, Swartz also built upon his parents' famous hot lunch specials. Diners wanted to be able to choose a special any day of the week so an extra large menu was created which now houses many daily originals and more recent creations.

Swartz said popular items on the breakfast side include an original recipe Teriyaki Steak and Eggs and an Italian Omelet made with sausage, ground beef, two types of cheese, onions and spices and topped with a homemade meat sauce. Also popular with the early morning crowd are the traditional Biscuits with Country Gravy.

"We also serve tons of home-fried potatoes," said Swartz.

A look at Nini's lunch menu (or the hot plate specials written on a white board each day) reveals other interesting dishes worth a try. There's a Pasta Santa Ana, cooked up with bacon, spinach, olives, tomatoes, spices, homemade red and white sauce and topped with Asiago cheese.

"The Salmon Pasta and Calamari Steak hot plate specials on Friday are also really good," said Swartz.

Steve Balian and Steve Barrett, two Coldwell Banker Realtors, are typical of those returning here time and time again. Balian, going on "15 years easily," and 20-year diner Barrett commented on their meals as they enjoyed a late breakfast.

"I eat here about every week or two," said Balian. "I like the food and atmosphere."

Barrett, enjoying a bacon avocado omelet, echoed Balian's words. He added also that he felt he "got a lot of bang for the buck."

Sitting just inside the sliding glass door from the two Realtors was the Ashby family. Husband Bob and wife M.J. originally lived in the area before moving to Seattle 13 years ago to raise a family. Nini's is a regular stop for them when they return to visit with their two daughters, Rachel, 12, and Marie, 9.

"The atmosphere is wonderful and the food fantastic," said Bob Ashby. "It's obvious why people come back time and again."

That's what Swartz loves to hear.

"Nini's is home for a lot of people," said Swartz. "It's the product, the service and the love that comes from everyone here."