Amidst the numerous restaurant chains in the Bay Area, Buddy’s Bites and Brews in Hayward stands as an independently-owned restaurant that prides itself on catering to the blue collared, young-hearted individual.
Unlike several independently-owned restaurants in Hayward and its surrounding areas, the mom-and-pop restaurant located on Hesperian Blvd. has stayed afloat in an unforgiving economy. Buddy’s marks the sixth reincarnation of a restaurant in that exact location.
“In this area, there’s not too many upper-middle or upper class [people] here. A lot of us are blue collared,” said Buddy’s owner Allen Yu. “Obviously we have to make sure that people can come in here, have a good time, still have the sense of value, and not leave with an empty wallet.”
Established nearly a year and a half ago by the former surf instructor and his close friends, the beach-themed California pub strives to bring a casual, laidback beach vibe to the city of Hayward.
Various beach memorabilia and authentic surfboards previously used by the staff decorate the walls of the pub and add a splash of summertime to the restaurant’s ambiance.
Yu believed his uniquely themed restaurant and tightly woven staff sets the California pub apart from its competitors.
“When you go to a chain restaurant a lot of the staff members there don’t really serve [customers] from the heart,” said Yu. “Most of us were actually friends even before this restaurant, so it comes from the heart. None of it is fake and I think our customers realize that.”
Buddy’s frequent diner Jenine Vera travels from Antioch to enjoy the restaurant’s relaxing atmosphere and exceptional service.
“I’ve never ate at a restaurant quite as fun as Buddy’s,” said Vera. “The concept is unique, the menu options are great, and above all else the staff is friendly and welcoming.”
Despite the poor state of the economy, the restaurant still manages to maintain a steady flow of customers. Yu said he attributes the restaurants success to old-fashioned hospitality.
“I really feel like word of mouth, an old fashioned handshake, and meeting people one on one is the way to go,” he said. “Luckily, we have been able to slowly attract people. From what I’ve seen so far people are coming back, which is good.”
Though Yu is a firm believer of old-fashioned hospitality, Buddy’s also capitalizes on social media sites, such as Facebook to promote their events and acquire customer feedback. Of the six customer reviews on their page, six customers gave the restaurant five out of five stars.
Aside from the service and atmosphere, customers are also pleased with the beach-themed restaurant’s diverse menu.
“There are so many food options at a reasonable price that I have a hard time choosing what to order,” said Buddy’s customer Ramona Gomez.
Though most famous for their Wednesday night trivia and Bonzai Pipeline—two liters of beer brought tableside—the pub offers an array of plates, including crab n’ shrimp flatbread, balsamic chicken pasta, fajita salad, bacon cheesy fries, and beer battered fish and chips.
“We are confident that once a customer walks in the door we can take care of them,” said Yu. “[We] definitely want to serve the neighborhood and the people in it.”
