Story: Diner Style Dining in Williams, Az.

If you find yourself in Williams, Arizona, a very small town about 50 miles south of the Grand Canyon National Park right on Historic Route 66, you will find yourself with a few dining options. One of those is the famous Cruiser’s Café 66.

You will probably feel as if you’ve stepped back in time into the 1950s when you enter Cruiser’s and that feeling is intentional. This café is partly housed in a 1930s gas station and they still retain many of the gasoline logos and even a couple of gas pumps, along with lots of other Route 66 memorabilia. Other special decor touches include the large mural, stuffed buffalo, and historic cars out front.. Not to mention the playable jukeboxes inside as well. Having recently undergone a renovation but retaining the 50s style decor, the metal inside the diner is shiny and colorful.

There are two eating areas, inside and on the large outdoor patio where they also have the large grill going. On this evening, I sat outside with my travel companion, my dog Kita. I chose this place because I could sit outside with the dog, use their free WiFi, and experience a true Williams iconic place. The menu has a heavy emphasis on barbecue, and as you enter the restaurant, you will smell the meat delights out on the grill to wet your appetite.

Here you will find classic American favorites, such as good burgers, steaks, ribs, seafood, salads, and malts. The relaxed atmosphere and jukebox tunes make this a place for both adults and children.You can get most items on the menu for a very family-friendly and affordable price. On this night, I had a hankering for one of my favorites, chicken fajitas. They did not disappoint, coming out sizzling fresh and tasting just as great as it does at home in San Diego where Mexican food is first rate.

If you choose to sit outside, you certainly may not get the people watching experience that you may find at a sidewalk café in Paris or New York, but it’s not fair to compare the 4,000 person town of Williams with two of the largest cities in the world. What I did see, though, were locals that knew each other passing each other by or meeting at the café. With Williams being only a short drive from Flagstaff, which is home to Northern Arizona University, it’s apparent the little town is frequented by Flagstaff residents in addition to the large number of tourists using it as a base for the Grand Canyon.

On this night, my only complaint was that while it is listed on many websites as a free Wifi hotspot, and they will give you the access code, the signal was very weak and didn’t allow me to do anything. Since I had to sit outside with my dog, I didn’t get to test to see if it was better inside. But as a bonus, we got to watch the limited street life in Williams and smell the great tasting meat cooking on the large barbecue outside.

The server was attentive, knew the menu, and even brought a bowl of water for my dog Although I am sure with the smells of meat cooking in her vicinity, she was hoping something else would make it her way. It was quick and tasty and the prices are reasonable. This restaurant is listed among only three others in the AAA guide listing for Williams. While I am not always one to use the AAA Travel Guides as a bible when travelling, you can’t have a ringing endorsement than this one. I actually found it on Dog Friendly travel web site, and for this trip, that was the most important feature.

Cruiser’s 66 also has its own website where you can purchase historic Route 66 memorabilia and other delights to remind you of the 50s and 60s. The categories on their web site are: tin signs, license plates, Route 66 paraphenalia, including mugs, shot glasses and keychains, and Elvis, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, and Gumby character merchandise. The site is at www.cruisers66.com.

Cruisers Café 66
233 W Route 66 (at the corner of 3rd St)
Williams, AZ
(928) 635-2445