Come along for Willits Main Street culinary delight tour. Buzzard’s Roost Burgers and Beer coming!
The owner of Highway 101 Drive In gave a wonderful commentary to this story. I have posted it at the end of this article.
Buzzard’s Roost Burgers!!! There is a new hangout for Wimpy in Willits
I’ll tell you about this as part of a culinary march through the town that calls itself “the Gateway to the Redwoods” (Or you are ALMOST somewhere folks). Check out the photos for the truly amazing number of affordable and intriguingly local eateries that are on that stretch.
Brutus and I ordered a Highway 101 Drive-In burger at the north end of town and left Linda to load up the order. We rambled down Highway 101 itself through four blocks of South Main Street and were amazed at all we saw. Of course, reporters are always looking for something new. Buzzard’s Roost Burgers and Brews! Owned by Buzzard Roost LLC. When I saw the name on the window in both plural and singular, I thought, that’s a pretty courageous thing to name your place. Brutus and I went into the shop next door,
Monkey Wrench Men’s and Women’s Wear , where the owner is very excited about the father-daughter team starting the restaurant. She said the crowds will be circling! OK, bad dad joke, she didn’t say that she said it would be GREEEAAAATT!
The new owner’s names? Darryl and Taylor Buzzard. I wrote to Taylor on email and she told me they haven’t picked a date to reopen. The site was Buster’s Burgers and Brews for many years until that establishment closed in September. It had cool historic photos on the wall but was a bit pricey for the burgers. Good local brews, though.
Taylor said they were still working on a few things and had not set an opening date.
The menu?
“It will be burgers, hot dogs, chicken strips, fries, and appetizers. It is my father (Darrell Buzzard) and I” Monkey Wrench Men’s and Women’s Wear looks like a cool place. I wanted to shop there but then remembered that none of these places have my size, even if I were thin again.
At 349 S. Main, there was a mystery restaurant. There are two signs on the restaurant. One is “TasteBudz,” a vegan restaurant, Jamaican-style. But there is also a big sign on the window that says “Cambodian American Food.” Are these side-by-side restaurants? I didn’t cross to the east side of Main Street. Someone tell me. I want some Cambodian food. (This question was cleared up by the man who owned the Cambodian restaurant. It was closed and he owns our favorite Highway 101 Drive In. Its just a very old sign that was never taken down).
There is also Peter’s Sushi and Chinese House. Wowza amazing combo!, like there should be somewhere a place called “Hong Kong Southern Fried Okra and California artichokes!” I’ve never tried Peter’s. Is it good? The whole Peter’s Plaza is fascinating. Check out the pics! Peter’s name is written in concrete out front as “Peter’s Plaza”
The first place I want to try next time I long for 100-degree temperatures or a chance to tour the fabulous Roots of Motive Power, will be the barbecue place I passed, Smokey’s BBQ. Just the aroma would have done it, but the menu is awesome. I couldn’t get a photo cuz there was a very weird and nervous man sitting outside, and the owner came out to greet me and I didn’t want to aim my gigantic Nikon P1000 camera at him. The guy gave me a menu. Looks delicious.. I’m going back to try it….November? There is another barbecue place on the other end of Willits with a very similar name, Smokin’ G’s Barbecue. This is a food truck on a trailer in the Napa Auto Parts parking lot. I prefer to sit down and prefer to support those paying for bricks and mortar, so I’ll try Smokey’s first. The owner said they had been there about 3 years.
Of course, along the way is one of the county’s truly delicious grocery stores.
Mariposa Market started out in 1979 as Mariposa Produce, with Mary Ann Trevey, her husband and her brother selling the freshest produce around. I believe historians will look back at 1979 as the year the grand and glorious American Revolution began to fall apart in favor of a foolish return to rule by the rich and feudalism, and ultimately the day the fall of the American Empire began. At the end of the row is Starbucks, the first chain store. I don’t resent it now that I have so many local choices, but I believe chains were one of the primary causes of the collapse of American small-town innovation and indeed overall strength as a nation. Nikita Khrushchev once said America was truly the greatest nation in history but would sacrifice that greatness in a second if given the right sales pitch. Bland food and cheesy products at slightly lower prices than the hometown folks can manage seems to have been that formula.\
The owner of Highway 101 Drive In provided a wonderful commentary. We have told everyone over the past few years his business is our favorite burger place over the hill and we stopped going to In and Out the moment we had one of his! Dahvi Hooper
Hi 
my family owns 101 Drive In, yes aka 101 Burgers.
I lovedd your written piece about a stroll through our town and your commentary on the views you saw. I always appreciate publicity for the town and its businesses! Plus the real-time take, not just perfectly formality of writing an article.
Excited for the opening of Buzzards Roost! We have always welcomed new businesses, even if our similar menu. The more the merrier in our opinion and I am happy the space will be filled – sucks to have empty buildings!
I used to own Dahvi’s Kitchen, which served burgers and Cambodian food. I closed Oct 2023 and Taste Budz took over the location early this year, relocating from their original Ukiah spot. The red and white sign is old, and has not been taken down.
ALL of our food establishments are worth a try, and then a try again… and then further support if you love it! I believe there could be many reasons for a negative experience, including your own mood that day, so returning and trying again is important.
Our town of Willits is a close knit and caring village, and I love it .
