Way Station Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Santa Clarita

I was excited to try Way Station...a classic diner, very good prices, and just basic breakfast food, nothing fancy....just what you need every now and then! Unfortunately, my excitement to be here wasn't matched with the experience provided.

I came with my son and we were seated fairly quickly. Outside tables were available too (though it was a little chilly for our tastes so we opted for inside.) There's a big sign that says "wear a mask" at the front door and the staff who greeted us and took our order were all masked.

I had coffee and my son had lemonade. He liked the lemonade...generous pour with a full, separate cup of ice.

The coffee was, at best, browned water...This is the lowest possible standard for diner coffee...Warm? Yes. In a nice mug? Yes. Brown? Yes. Any flavor? None at all. A breakfast place, to be at all legitimate has to have good coffee. The coffee here is not good.

While sipping it I noticed neither of the cooks was wearing their masks properly. One had it around his chin with both his nose and mouth exposed. The other only had his mouth covered with his nose exposed. The first one had no gloves of any kind on and I saw him touch his mouth with his hand, then reach down to put food on a plate. He was also using his bare hand to add cheese to the dish.

I understand different people have different preferences and comfort levels when it comes to health and safety...but it's literally the law of the land that food workers have to wear masks. In the midst of a global pandemic that has killed almost a million people, there's no excuse whatsoever for a cook to not be wearing a mask while preparing food. Not to mention touching his face and then plating the food.

As much as I appreciate a classic diner, a dingy one even, I felt like I was taking a risk by eating food they would serve here. We left some money on the table for the drinks and informed our server we wouldn't be able to stay and left.

I can't imagine ever setting foot in Way Station again after witnessing such flagrant disregard for mandatory health protocols. (Not to mention the lack of common sense on display...

it's a hole in the wall restaurant but it has the charm that brought brings you back time and time again. Friendly people who will ask you how are Doing but also get into a conversation with you. You just feel at home and puts back in time when things were just nice and relaxing. On the weekend there are a lot of people like during 9am to 12 but there at counter seats and the people in line will turn and tell you interested in sitting at counter instead of waiting for a booth. The food is really good when you see the grill with all food on it it will make your senses just go crazy and your mouth will drool and the hash browns And grilled onions just are amazing to look at that you can't wait to eat... FYI...the line forms thru the back entrance There's coffee just before the sitting are and a jukebox... They have a lot of license plates on the wall from different states from different years and pictures.. Just a good old fashion place to get a good old fashion meal at a reasonable price...' You will sure want to return as it it will be worth your time to enjoy a place like this. Because places like this aren't around like...

Way Station is located in a cute area just off Main Street. The area is perhaps the best thing about Way Station. My wife and I went (party of two) and there was a 40 minute wait on a Saturday morning. That actually made us a bit excited (long wait = high demand = good food). Unfortunately, they have an archaic method of keeping track of the wait list by reading off the list and announcing it so you can’t go shop around while waiting because you’re not sure where you are on the list.

When called in, the atmosphere was fun and nostalgic with license plates and old famous people posted around the restaurant. The staff were really helpful and fast but the food took longer than expected. (That’s most likely why the wait was so long.) And when the food arrived, it was either over done (I.e., eggs and bacon) or underdone (I.e., the hash-browns). The coffee was not great either, like Maxwell house meets Folgers.

Finally, the price was very reasonable and the menu was not grandiose. They had the essentials but not much else. The best I could describe it would be that most people probably go for nostalgia,...