Serving up the '60s

Diner's far-out décor transports customers to grooviest decade

jan hogan/viewMulticolored umbrellas adorn tables on the patio of Rambo?s Kitchen, a diner that celebrates the decade that saw the advent of color TV and tie-dye T-shirts. Jan hogan/viewKelly Krzyzaniak, left, and her business partner Robert Reyes share a light moment at their restaurant Rambo?s Kitchen, 6085 S. Fort Apache Road. The 1960s-themed diner serves home-style comfort food fortified with ?60s memorabilia and psychedelic colors. The restaurant also features a TV Dinner Night that includes menu items served with a side of classic ?60s television programs such as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and "The Dean Martin Variety Hour." Advertisement

Quick. What's your favorite TV show from the 1960s? Most memorable movie star? Chances are, you'll find mention of them at Rambo's Kitchen.

"Everybody does the 1950s diner ... we said, 'What about the 1960s?' " said Robert Reyes, co-owner of the 46-seat cafe at 6085 S. Fort Apache Road in the Pine Plaza Shopping Center. "We picked all the good things that happened then."

The eatery is, in a word, groovy. How groovy?

The kitchen crew wears tie-dye T-shirts. Games such as checkers, UNO and dominoes are available. The sound system includes Mary Wells singing how nothing you could say could tear her away from her guy. The walls of the 1,350-square-foot eatery are so chock full of memorabilia -- peace signs, Jim Morrison pictures, a studio shot of the "Andy Griffith Show" cast -- they almost take one's attention away from the food.

Almost.

Set all your calorie-counting aside because Rambo's menu conquers even the best intentions. There's a footlong hot dog smothered in chili, cheddar cheese and onion on a grilled bun and a chicken fried steak dinner served with country gravy and biscuit, salad and potato.

The Cheesy Cheese Burger -- there's a reason why "cheese" is echoed in the name -- is a half-pound of Angus beef stuffed with a special combination of cheeses and topped with an onion ring. The pulled pork sandwich comes on a 10-inch toasted bun and is topped with a couple of crunchy onion rings. Another taste treat: batter-coated fried zucchini sticks sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

"We use a light batter, not that heavy type," said Kelly Krzyzaniak, Reyes' business partner.

All this from two operators who never owned an eatery before.

Reyes got his restaurant savvy from being a general contractor for commercial buildings. Any time he built a restaurant, he made himself available during the first month to address any sudden issues. That gave him a firsthand view of how to operate such a business and glean operational information that might not otherwise come up.

Krzyzaniak, too, has a background in construction -- hard-wiring newly built offices. The two originally planned to flip restaurants. Then the economy came to a standstill.

Now, they're just focusing on making Rambo's Kitchen a place where people feel welcomed and can get a good bite to eat.

Tommie Kittrell said he likes it so much, he's brought friends. Diana Robbins called it "bright and cheery."

"It reminds me of when I was a kid, even though I was born in the '70s," said Annetta des Bouillons. "It's the kind of place you'd go when you hit the beach."

As for Rambo, he's man's best friend, a 7-year-old Maltese who gets to visit the diner on occasion. Just for kicks, the owners put a chef's hat on his head and let him greet diners.

Rambo's Kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call 722-2626.

Contact Summerlin and Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.