A second act for Jack’s: Maverick Jack’s opens in Burlingame at Broadway train station

Despite his frenetic preparation, Mallie strived to some find enjoyment amidst the hectic final moments before hungry patrons began filing through the former train station’s striking yellow front door at 11190 California Drive.

“I’m a little nervous. Quite excited. That’s normal for any life-changing opportunity,” he said. “I’ve got some butterflies in my stomach, but that is living.”

Though the experienced restaurateur knows there is no such thing as a sure thing in the food industry, his confidence in the new endeavor is forged by the support Jack’s Prime has enjoyed over the past roughly seven years.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have done,” he said. “And the aim is to continue bringing that to the forefront.”

The menu at Maverick Jack’s mostly mirrors the fare offered at its predecessor — family-friendly favorites available in the neighborhood of $15 per burger along with a side of fries.

The biggest change he said from the previous iteration will be an enhanced focus on offering seasonal beers, and frequently changing taps to pour the freshest and most desirable suds. Wine is also poured at the restaurant, but no liquor is available.

Though the building at the train station has hosted a variety of restaurants over the years, most recently Brio, and perhaps most notably Pisces, Mallie said he is hopeful local familiarity to the Jack’s brand will be an asset in overcoming the plight previously suffered by others.

Rather than focus on previous failures at the site, Mallie said he would prefer to find inspiration in the triumph of other Burlingame restaurants.

“We want to do for burgers what Delfina has done for pizza,” he said. “Do it well, with professionalism and integrity and result in success.”

As he coordinated deliveries of the final goods needed to launch the restaurant, Mallie stood surrounded by a sleek and chic interior design embracing the building’s adjacent rail tracks, as light fixtures mimic those affixed to the front of trains and the dining booths appear inspired by elements of a railcar seat.

“We have great family food in a building that fits the community,” said Mallie.

The building, which seats a capacity of roughly 80 diners, needed to be entirely gutted and redone to fit the vision crafted by designer Penelope Jones, said Mallie.

“It’s been hectic,” said Mallie, of the redesign. “We have been working hard.”

Launching the new restaurant also included some unanticipated challenges, said Mallie, such as attempting to hire new staff members in an expensive housing market, which has been the source of frustration for many local eateries.

“The cost of living is challenging for a lot of people,” he said.

After moving from Ireland to the United States roughly one decade ago, Mallie knows the struggle of navigating the competitive restaurant industry while attempting to make a living in the Bay Area.

He attributes the success he has enjoyed in the past to dedication and hard work, and said the name of the new restaurant honors the rugged individualism defining the pioneering spirit of those who settled the West.

Maverick Jack’s though will continue to be operated under the same desire to please patrons, which has always driven Mallie’s career in the restaurant industry, he said.

“I just like making people happy,” he said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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