Eat Americana, at 3532 Balboa St., was a staple in the community under the direction of Tony Lai. But he is likely retiring, according to Eric Lindsey, president of the Balboa Village Merchants Association, which posted about the restaurant’s closure on its Instagram account Friday.
The diner is known for an eclectic and delicious menu of all-day breakfast, like buttermilk pancakes and breakfast burritos, as well as a decadent beef and bacon burger and pulled-pork waffle fries drenched in cheese and Buffalo sauce. The diner’s last day of business will be Sunday, April 12, the post said.
According to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the current beer and wine liquor license is being transferred to Rich & Smooth LLC, which plans to open a new eatery able to serve beer and wine called the Cat’s Whiskers. Rich & Smooth LLC is co-registered to Aomploy Srikanok (an Aomploy S. wrote a 5-star Yelp review for Eat Americana in 2024).
“I’ve been going there since before my kids were born,” Lindsey said to SFGATE of Eat Americana, in a phone interview. “It’s really an institution that many of the locals feel is beloved.”
Lai opened the restaurant in 1996. For two decades, it was called Americana Grill, according to Lindsey, and was known for Vietnamese and Italian dishes. In 2016, Lai brought a local chef, James Moisey, on board to overhaul the menu into what it is today. Moisey had become well-known in San Francisco for his gluttonous, yet creative takes on diner food after stints at the Broken Record bar and his own restaurant, Rickybobby. Lindsey called the addition of Moisey a “wise decision.” It’s been a neighborhood favorite ever since.
“We’ve become such good friends with Tony and the team there, a lot of the neighborhood has,” Lindsey said. “I don’t think he realizes the impact or the loss people are going to feel when he closes.”
The Balboa Village Merchants Association’s Instagram post shared a message from Lai about the closure.
“You haven’t just been our customers; you have become our family. We have watched children grow up, shared countless laughs, and celebrated life’s milestones across our tables,” the post read in part. “Your unwavering support and warm smiles have been the heartbeat of this restaurant since the very beginning.”
Lindsey’s kids were some of the children that grew up in the restaurant. He shared that they were often given free tater tots as friends of the business.
“It’s going to be a huge loss, not just for the variety of and quality of food, but they were like family,” Lindsey said. “It’s like losing a family member, in some ways.”
The Instagram post stated that the closure was due to Lai’s “health considerations.” Lindsey did not elaborate on the details, saying that it was a personal matter. SFGATE called Eat Americana, but Lai was not available for an interview before publication time.