My son and his family recently moved from Kansas City to California. All four of them are foodies, including the 18 month old. The were shocked that they could not find local owned small restaurants and bistros that are family friends, good food, and good service. All of the restaurants were either fast food with only counter service or very high end restaurants. They live in Redwood City and spend their time there, in Meno Park, and Palo Alto. But, even venturing out from Techie Land, the same pattern prevails.
I suggested to them that no one can afford to run the small neighborhood eateries that are so popular in KC. The cost of servers and good cooks may such a place impossible in La La Land. Fast Food places get by with minimal staff, while the high end places cater to those who don’t care what the bill might be. Those are your choices.
Those family-friendly local owned eateries are now mostly found in ethnic neighborhoods, Latin, Asian and such and use family as labor.