Welcome to The Grubstake!

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE GRUBSTAKE IN SAN FRANCISCO

When you sit at the counter in The Grubstake, you are sitting in a tiny bit of Bay Area history! The rail car that houses half of The Grubstake originally served the Key Line that provided transportation between Berkeley and Oakland and San Francisco. The completion of the Bay Bridge caused major transportation changes, and, along with four other cars, it was "set" in San Francisco in 1927, it became a diner - long before diners were trendy. Then it was red and white railcar and it was called The Orient Express. It sat alone on the lot with an alley where the present dining room is located, and the kitchen was at the Pine Street end of the car.

In 1967, the owners of  The Grubstake I at 142 Mason Street (now the site of the Parc Fifty Five Hotel) established The Grubstake II in the rail car. When business expanded, they added the present kitchen and dining room.

Today, The Grubstake continues the tradition of serving cooked-to-order burgers and breakfasts—as well as full meals and house-made desserts—from 5:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. daily.