This Century-Old California Drive-In Still Serves Classic Roadside Burgers
The neon catches your eye first. A quick glow in the distance. Cars drift toward it.
People notice places like this without trying. They slow down. They look twice. Something good is happening here.
The grill works steadily behind the counter. Burgers sizzle. Fries drop into hot oil. Someone laughs near the picnic tables while another order gets called out. The whole scene feels easy and familiar in the best possible way.
Few roadside burger traditions in California still pull people in the moment the neon sign lights up.
Hungry travelers stop in after long drives. Hikers wander over with dusty shoes and big appetites. Locals treat it like a comfortable routine when dinner plans fall through.
The rhythm never really changes. Orders up. Buns on the grill. Another tray sliding across the counter. Conversations drifting through the evening air.
That simple energy has kept the place alive for generations, long enough for a roadside stand to grow into something much bigger than a quick meal.
1. A Root Beer Stand That Started It All In 1923
Long before drive-throughs became a fast-food staple across America, a small root beer stand opened its doors in Cloverdale, California in 1923.
Known originally as Reed and Bell’s Root Beer Stand, the spot was built on a simple idea: cold drinks and good service on a busy roadside stretch.
Back then, a frosty root beer on a warm Northern California afternoon was exactly the kind of refreshment travelers and locals craved.
The stand became a familiar stop along the route, earning a steady following that would carry its reputation forward for decades.
That kind of staying power does not happen by accident.
It takes a combination of consistent quality, a welcoming atmosphere, and a community that genuinely values what a small business brings to the neighborhood.
Reed and Bell’s laid the groundwork for everything Pick’s Drive-In would eventually become, making 1923 more than just a founding date but the starting point of a story still being written today in Cloverdale.
2. How The Pickard Family Gave The Stand Its Famous Name
The name “Pick’s” did not appear on the sign until the early 1950s, when Mayo and Johnie Mae Pickard took ownership of the little stand and made it their own.
The Pickards brought a family-run energy to the place that quickly became part of its identity, and locals began associating the spot with their warmth and consistency.
Renaming a business after yourself is a statement of personal investment, and the Pickards clearly meant to stick around.
Their hands-on approach helped shape Pick’s Drive-In into the kind of neighborhood institution that people remember fondly long after a first visit.
The mom-and-pop spirit the Pickards established became the emotional core of everything Pick’s Drive-In represented going forward.
Even as ownership eventually changed hands again in later decades, that original family-run feeling lingered in the physical space, the community loyalty, and the unpretentious way the place operated.
The Pickard name may no longer be on the deed, but it remains permanently attached to the identity of one of Cloverdale’s most enduring landmarks.
3. The Iconic 1940s Neon Sign That Still Glows Today
Few things signal a truly historic restaurant like a neon sign that has been around long enough to become a landmark on its own.
Pick’s Drive-In features a restored neon sign dating back to the 1940s, and it remains one of the most visually striking details of the entire property.
When the restaurant underwent renovations in January 2026, the decision was made to restore rather than replace the sign, which speaks to a genuine respect for the history of the place.
That glowing neon is not just decoration but a direct visual connection to the mid-century era when drive-ins were at the height of their cultural popularity across California.
At dusk, the sign casts a warm, nostalgic glow that sets the tone for the meal ahead. For many visitors, seeing it lit up is part of the experience before they even place an order.
Restored neon signs of this age require skilled craftwork to maintain, and the fact that Pick’s kept it intact rather than modernizing signals a clear commitment to honoring what makes the place genuinely special.
4. The 2026 Renovation That Brought Wagyu Beef To The Menu
In January 2026, Pick’s Drive-In reopened under the ownership of Anidel Hospitality.
The renovation gave the space a fresh look while keeping its historic bones intact, striking a balance between honoring the past and meeting modern expectations for food quality.
One of the most notable changes was the introduction of Wagyu beef to the burger lineup.
Specifically, the menu now features Akaushi Wagyu beef patties, a breed known for its rich marbling and tender texture compared to standard ground beef.
For a roadside stand that once served simple root beer floats, the upgrade to premium beef represents a meaningful shift in ambition.
Pick’s Roadside, as the revamped spot is now called, sits at 117 S Cloverdale Blvd, Cloverdale, CA 95425.
The renovation was not just cosmetic but a rethinking of what the menu could offer while still staying rooted in the burger-stand tradition that made the place famous.
The result is a spot that feels both familiar and noticeably elevated compared to its previous iteration.
5. The Signature Pick’s Burger Worth Knowing About
The Pick’s Burger stands as the centerpiece of the current menu and gives a clear picture of what the new ownership is going for.
Built around a third-pound Akaushi Wagyu beef patty, the burger comes topped with Pick’s original red relish, cheddar cheese, and fresh vegetables, all served on a milk dough bun.
The milk dough bun is worth noting on its own.
Softer and slightly richer than a standard brioche, it holds up well against a juicy patty without becoming soggy, which matters more than most people realize when eating outdoors at a walk-up counter.
The original red relish is a nod to the restaurant’s long history, adding a signature flavor that distinguishes the Pick’s Burger from a generic fast-casual option.
Pairing a century-old condiment recipe with a premium beef patty is exactly the kind of thoughtful detail that separates a truly good burger from a forgettable one.
For first-time visitors trying to decide what to order, the Pick’s Burger is a logical and satisfying starting point that reflects both the history and the current direction of the restaurant.
6. Milkshakes Made With Straus Family Creamery Ice Cream
Milkshakes at Pick’s Roadside are not an afterthought on the menu.
The shakes are made using Straus Family Creamery ice cream, a Northern California dairy brand known for its organic, high-quality products sourced from family farms in the region.
Straus Family Creamery has built a strong reputation among food-conscious Californians for its commitment to sustainable farming and rich, clean-tasting dairy.
Using their ice cream as the base for milkshakes means the finished product carries a noticeably creamier texture and fuller flavor compared to shakes made with generic commercial ice cream.
For a roadside burger stand, sourcing locally and thoughtfully is a detail that tends to resonate with the Sonoma County crowd, where awareness of food origins runs deep.
The milkshakes pair naturally with the burger lineup and give the menu a cohesive sense of quality from savory to sweet.
Root beer floats at Pick’s are made using Lost Coast Brewery’s root beer, adding another layer of local character to the drinks side of the menu and making the beverage selection feel as considered as the food.
7. Outdoor Seating And The Open-Air Experience
Eating at Pick’s Drive-In has always been an outdoor experience, and that remains true after the 2026 renovation.
The setup is casual and unpretentious, with outdoor seating that suits the walk-up counter format the restaurant has maintained throughout its long history.
Wooden benches and open-air tables give the space a relaxed, unhurried feel that fits well with the pace of a small town like Cloverdale.
The lack of an enclosed dining room means the experience is tied to the weather, so visiting on a comfortable day makes a real difference in how enjoyable the meal feels.
Morning fog in Northern California tends to burn off by midday, making the afternoon hours a natural sweet spot for an outdoor meal.
The open setting also means the sounds of the surrounding neighborhood drift through easily, giving the place an ambient, lived-in quality that an indoor restaurant cannot replicate.
For visitors coming from larger cities, the low-key outdoor atmosphere at Pick’s can feel like a genuine change of pace, reminding people that not every good meal needs four walls and a ceiling to be memorable.
8. The Menu Beyond Burgers: Chicken, Black Bean, And More
While the burger lineup naturally gets the most attention at Pick’s Roadside, the menu extends well beyond beef patties.
The Crispy Chicken Sandwich and Spicy Chicken Sandwich offer solid alternatives for those who prefer poultry, and both fit the casual, hand-held format that makes roadside dining so satisfying.
A Black Bean Burger rounds out the protein options for vegetarian visitors, which is a practical addition for a spot that draws from the broader Sonoma County crowd where plant-based preferences are fairly common.
Sides include fries and onion rings, with the seasoned fries drawing consistent positive feedback from visitors across multiple visits and years.
Soft serve ice cream and milkshakes complete the menu on the sweet side, giving families with kids a natural dessert option after the main course.
The overall menu is focused rather than overwhelming, which tends to work in the kitchen’s favor when it comes to consistency and speed.
A tighter menu usually means each item gets more attention, and at a walk-up counter where food is made fresh, that kind of focus directly affects what ends up in the customer’s hands.
9. What Makes Pick’s A True Community Landmark After 100 Years
Reaching the century mark as a roadside food stand is genuinely rare, and Pick’s Drive-In has managed to carry that legacy forward while remaining tied to the same Cloverdale community that first embraced it back in 1923.
The stand has moved through different chapters over the decades, surviving economic shifts, ownership changes, and the rise of fast-food chains that replaced many independent roadside spots.
Today the restaurant operates under the stewardship of a hospitality group that has worked to preserve the historic identity of the property while keeping it active for a new generation of visitors.
The neon sign, the roadside setting, and the relaxed atmosphere still reflect the spirit that made the place popular in the first place.
Part of what keeps Pick’s relevant is the way it functions as more than just a restaurant.
Locals stop in after hikes, families treat it as a casual outing, and travelers passing through Sonoma County often add it to their itinerary specifically because of the history attached to the stand.
That blend of nostalgia and everyday convenience continues to give the place a strong connection to the community.
Current hours run Monday through Wednesday and Friday through Sunday, with closing times varying depending on the day, so checking ahead before visiting is still a smart idea.
Pick’s Roadside at 117 S Cloverdale Blvd holds a 4.3-star rating across hundreds of reviews, reflecting a generally positive response from diners while also capturing the range of experiences that any long-running restaurant naturally accumulates over time.
The history, the setting, and the continued investment behind the scenes all point to a place that still carries its legacy forward.
