Fifi’s Diner

It started in October of 1985. I was 10.
How could a simple place like this have affected my life so much?
Simple as — the person inside of it (not a Simple Lady, though…).
I tugged my Mother’s arm towards the new frozen yogurt store — that NEW part of Bön Air they finally developed East of Petrini’s! [Mollie Stone’s now] — It was a hay field before that… Mom was very disciplined about our fun treats out — but she was as curious as I was, so we went!
Fast forward 6 years to 1991. My Sister got her first job there and would come home to tell me the fun day-​to-​day ‘rants and details’ of any small business. «Fifi this, Fifi that!»
Who WAS this Fifi lady? She sounded so fun, interesting and amazing!
Fast forward another 7 years to 1998 — I returned to Marin after college. It was now a 50’s-Style Diner along with the Ice Cream case called «Fifi’s Diner»…even better — and, obviously — Fifi was still there!
No longer, though, did I have my Mother’s arm to tug toward her store to buy me a cup of frozen yogurt — so Fifi just became one of my many ‘alternate’ Mother’s. Just always there.

Fast forward another 10 or so years to 2002 when I made a weird decision to do an «in-​between» job serving tables and bartending at one of the Original Chevy’s locations right next door to her. When I was tired of eating chips and salsa — I would run next door to see Fifi and have an amazing Burger, BLT, Shake, Fries — whatever. You knew what you were getting. And you knew she was there.
A final fast forward another dozen years landed us to today, December 5, 2015. More than 30 years later — a banner in the window said they were saying ‘goodbye’ — last day 12÷19÷15. Their lease was not renewed by Bön Air management.
Stopped in my tracks. I took a left and walked right in. Fifi remembered exactly who I was — who my friends from Grade School were, etc. Seconds after I ordered a bacon cheeseburger — she and her ENTIRE staff ran out of the place to go next door for 2 minutes to get their photos taken with Santa. Uh, she didn’t even delegate — it’s like she left me in charge of the place for a couple minutes because she knew my Sister and we had known each other for 30 years. That felt good. I laughed at her when they all returned — «you know I would have loved to have gotten behind the counter and taken orders just like my Sister did 25 years ago!!!»
So it ends December of 2015 when I am now (wow) 40. What an amazing run, Fifi.
Congratulations and Thank You for being so amazing!
Meredith and I love you, the work you did and will never forget you — THANK YOU!
Christian

Going to miss this
of December 19^th it will be out of business.
The only thing thing for sure is change. I wish the crew best wishes in their job opportunities & future.
KennyMac

Not much too complicated about this place. Has a diner look with basic burgers, hot dogs, salads, fries and shakes.
The burgers are incredibly bland. The meat tastes like it was taken from the grocery store and put directly onto the fryer. From what I can tell, there is no seasonings used and the way the meat is cooked can vary from order to order. The fries are good though.
I usually get my food in a timely manner. The staff on the other hand are usually doing work or just standing around. There is no acknowledgement of you entering and the ordering processes is very direct and formal.

Gave this place a second try but I don’t think I will be coming back. Long story short I could have made it better at home.

Went to Fifi’s on the way back form Muir Woods national park. I came in for a milkshake after a lot of walking, and they didn’t disappoint. The strawberry milkshake was huge, and pretty tasty — I’d definitely be happy with another one sometime.

Previously frozen burger patty that was over cooked. Standard frozen fries. Pretty average high school cafeteria lunch.

Found Fifi’s in the Bön Air shopping center, next to a Peet’s coffee. It’s a little diner with a friendly owner.
They meet all the criteria:
— Standard greasy burger fare, prepared out in the open where you can see it.
— Hits from the 1950’s on the speakers overhead.
— Red vinyl chairs and a counter with stools.
The food was OK. Beef patty tastes frozen. Very greasy. I was satisfied for the price. And although I would never call Fifi’s «vegetarian», you do have the choice to get gardenburger or turkey patties.

this place is good. always has been. great breakfast. great omelette. fresh ingredients. they don’t over flavor or salt the food. open kitchen. you can watch the cook make your food. friendly staff. its a diner. not a restaurant people. remember that.

Decided I wanted a burger while I waited for friends to come home, so I decide to try this place that I found by passing by. I had the Burger California and it was very moist and juicy but the fries were a little well done for my taste.

I went to Fifi’s quite a bit many many years ago when they first opened — I even had a friend who worked there about 12 years ago while we were still in high school.
I enjoyed it then, and today I found out I enjoy it now. Went today for the first time in forever, and they still have it.
Ordered the veggie burger combo (fries and soda) for $ 7.75. Not bad. Not bad at all.
I will be back

Fifi’s Diner has that «hazy daze» décor without the waitresses. just a bus urself place.
eats: burger, fries, and soda (5.99)
–6oz.? ordered med rare. got med.
no pink, meat not juicy, tasteless
–purple onion, lettuce, tomato very fresh
–on large soft bord… bun.
–cherry coke yummy.
–shoestring fries not crispy enough, soft innards.
leftovers:
–maybe the burger patties previously frozen.
–service good. all amigo/​amiga staff.

For a Sunday Breakfast, we love Fifi’s. We generally go on warm days and eat at the tables outside. The hash browns are top rate as is the bacon. Even the toast is buttered to perfection. It’s a real treat for us.
I’ve also had their burgers and fries, which are great.
We also find the staff and Fifi warm and personable. And the customer service is excellent. I got a call from my company’s security team on a Monday. I had lost my ID outside on a Sunday and Fifi’s staff had called my company to let them know that they had the ID. Now that is stellar customer service in my opinion.

The food was okay, and the service was okay, but it wasn’t stellar, not for the price.

I had a quick breakfast sandwich here with a coworker. Service was great – notably helpful and friendly – and it was a darn good sandwich. I’ll have to go again to form a more complete opinion.

Whenever I shop at Mollie stones Fifi’s diner always smells sooo good. So I decided to go in for some lunch (2 of us) There was one customer that was sitting and eating and no one else waiting. My friend and I stopped and looked at the menu outside for about 5 mins. I was happy because they had veggie burger options.
We walked in as the employee was mopping and were waiting at the cash register while he mopped.
And Mopped.
And Mopped.
He did not greet us and I thought perhaps we came at closing time. I asked my friend
«Oh maybe they are closing?» and I walked to the front of the store looking for some store hours only to see that there are NO hours posted. I came back to tell my friend
«Lets just leave» because I was miffed at the lack of service and I was hungry.
But the employee might have heard me because he comes back to the register and takes our order.
We get it to go because now the place smells like the cleaning solution that was being used on the floor.
My friend’s order was wrong and mine was bland. The buns seemed like they are made out of recycled paper because when I bit into my burger I actually had to tear away with it like I was eating tough beef jerky or something.
The place was clean though but I wont come here again.

Fifi’s diner has been in Bön Air for all the years that I’ve been in Marin.
Their burgers are delicious, their portions are quite reasonable, and I love their frings! I recently got one of their shakes too and they’re fantastic (although certainly very fatty). As this is in Marin though, don’t expect cheap prices at this diner.
The burgers I’ve tried so far includes: (note that most of these were from a long while ago so it may have changed since then
California burger: Their burger is scrumptious! A good portion of guacamole on it.
Teriyaki burger: This burger is on the salty side, but the teriyaki sauce works great with the burger. Surprising though that they don’t add grilled pineapples to it or something.
Bacon and Cheddar Cheeseburger: Their slices of bacon are quite chunky, and adds to the deliciousness of the burger! You can’t go wrong with reasonably cooked bacon!

Looking for a good pre-​hike snack, we found this little dinner in the Bön Air Shopping Center. The turkey with cranberry dressing panini here was both good and a slight disappointment.
First the good: generous Turkey, crispy thin panini crust, great mescaline greens salad. The downside was that the turkey was straight from a deli package. Still it tasted very good and was perfect in every other way.
The only problem with the Diner was that it smelled heavily of grease, which clung to us as we left. Better to eat at the outside tables if it’s a nice day.
But all in all, this is a good diner to try.

Fifi’s is the best thing in this plaza, other than the CHASE bank of course. Try the shakes. On a hot summer day (or even in the winter) these very unhealthy but very filling ice cream shakes are amazing to the last drop. I had the birthday cake one. Yum Yum Yum!
Once I Ordered the chili burger combo I had a funny feeling about it. Then when they brought out my food I was flabbergast because under all that chili the did hide my burger. I found it! The staff is super nice and friendly and I couldn’t have asked for more fast or better service. This diner will change your life.

Fifi’s Daycare has a diner in the back! So Clever!!!
Not really, it’s not a daycare but this small diner is a local hangout for rug rats. Maybe it’s the cute mickey mouse pancakes or the 3 dollar kids combos. Whatever it is i’m just forewarning you in case you are allergic.
$ 8.00 for the cheeseburger, fries, and a drink combo. The cheeseburger hit the spot on my big red white and blue target and the crispy fries were swept clean. My coke was a coke and left me happy. I’ll come back and bring my nephew.

Location, location, location.
BF likes Fifi’s proximity to Peet’s Coffee.
I like Fifi’s proximity to Ben and Jerry’s.*
We both like Fifi’s diner-​ish brunch offerings and outdoor seating. BF inhaled his usual Corned Beef Hash and I was happy with the Veggie Omelet (lots of fresh onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach). The hash browns were just the way I like ‘em (very crispy on both sides) and the plates came with sourdough toast.
*For anyone who mistakenly thinks one should not have dessert after breakfast, Ben and Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake ice cream begs to differ. ;)