Victoria B

We went there for Mother’s Day. Service was great. There was a special dinner menu for mother all day long with different variations. Stake, mushed potatoes and veggies were excellent. We also took fish and pies. All dishes were delicious and big exactly like in mom’s house. We were so full and took pies home for desserts.

Claudia Ramirez

Went for desserts. Restaurant was empty. We were greeted and sat immediately. Staff was friendly and helpful. MC pie was exactly what we needed. In and out in 15 min. There was an old vintage feeling while here. Although it may appear outdated to young people, for myself, it took me back to when I was younger. I miss MC, and I forgot how much until I had my first of the double cream blueberry pie.

My in-laws got a mailer with various pie coupons on it for Marie Calendars and got a craving for the Chocolate Satin pie. We called ahead after dinner to make sure they still had one in-stock for the day and then went to pick one up for takeout. We ordered at the counter and used our $7 coupon, which felt like a pretty good deal (the pie is normally $27.99). Also, for every pie tin you bring back clean you get 80¢ back so we brought two tins with us that wife's parents still had). Service was friendly when we ordered at the counter, they only needed a few minutes to grab the pie and box it up for us. They have two dining areas and it is quiet inside. It feels on the older side. One dining area was empty and the other maybe half full, which seemed decent for a Tuesday 40 minutes before closing. The pie itself was very very rich. Smooth chocolate taste but even with my sweet tooth having what I consider a "normal" slice was too much for me! I prefer their apple pies! We do want to come back and try some of their actual appetizers and entrees - before this I had only ever had their pies before for Thanksgiving or frozen from the super market. Note: They do not accept apple pay, make sure to have a physical card or cash.

Samson M. Joseph

Updated Review: Came back again and still loved it. But this place is treading water. Booths are falling apart. They were not restocking salad bar options because “they were going to be closed for a few days.” The cheddar soup tasted sour (meaning: they were using the last drops of the old stuff because, again, they were going to be closed for a few days. The host actually told an elderly customer, “keep coming back because we need you.” While I love the nostalgia of the place, still think the salad bar is a good option (most times), and think the servers are great, this place is on borrowed time unless they can figure out a way to make this location interesting to new customers. As it stands, they aren’t doing that. ============================ Original Review: I still remember the heyday of Marie Callender’s in the 80s (and even in the 90s). Used to go to the one on Winchester regularly and loved their salad bar and French onion soup combo meal (both you could eat!). But the company was sold, resold, merged (with another old school favorite that is still thriving outside California, Perkins), and disentangled time and time again. They are down to 24 locations. The Sunnyvale location is one of them. I have been there three times in the past two years. Always for the salad bar. It is like stepping back in a time machine. The upper level looks largely non-operational, with customers being slotted into the lower level to the left side of the entrance. The place could use a bit of scrubbing. And there is clear wear-and-tear on the seats, the walls, the floor, etc. But the mostly grey-haired clientele likely can’t see the threadbare nature of the restaurant. And they seem to enjoy it. So, too, did I, in both ironic and non-ironic sorts of ways. Lots of early eaters/blue platers and a fairly busy vibe each time I visited. You get some cornbread when you are seated, just like in days of yore! And, situated in the midst of everything, there it is . . . the salad bar! To be clear, this is an old school salad bar. Nothing fancy. Several choices of soup, all of which are good enough. Lots of veggies. Reasonably fresh. While the price is higher than it likely should be, I get it. Things cost more these days. The staff? Uniformly friendly, prompt, and actively engaged in refilling drinks, asking if you need anything, and taking care of customers. They are a great crew. I hope the owner knows this. I also hope the owner asks a touch more of them (you know the saying, ‘if you got time to lean . . .’). I’d like to think this place will survive for another decade or more. I also hate the idea that the Hacienda Shopping Center is such an obvious target for redevelopment (all of this space, all of those parking spaces, could easily be turned into yet another mixed-use, high-density, multiple-story, set of condos and businesses). But I wish the owners well and will visit again. I am a sucker for a salad bar. Just tidy up a bit (you have little, homemade, signs at each table proudly noting that you are working hard to make it . . . now you just have to do a bit more to show that you are actually trying). --------------------------------------------- In other news, let’s talk about the other reviews . . . There are lots of great ones, many of them noting the nostalgia factor and the service. But there are also some head-scratchers. Penny, you gave them 3/5 for the three metrics listed and then gave them one star?!?! You do understand how reviews work, right? Darrell, yeah, inflation and all of that stuff. But you also gave them 2/5, 4/5, and 4/5 . . . and then a two-star review. Same question that I asked Penny. Becky, you are at least clear in why you gave the ranking you gave (and I also think that their menu could use a refresh, if I was ordering anything other than the salad bar).

Ayesha K

Their pies are world famous and one needs to go much in advance during busy times like Christmas and thanksgiving. They have a number of flavours including traditional favourites and more innovative new concoctions. Got the German chocolate pie and it was fantastic. The chocolate had flakes of coconut which added another dimension of flavour. Soft and fresh. Crust was fresh but crisp. The chocolate satin pie was divine- light, whipped chocolate satin over an oreo crust (which could have been replaced by a simple pie crust imo) and with whipped cream. A medium pie lasts two people a little over a week. Very much worth the cost. I didn’t really like the peach pie.

+7

Victor

You have to enter with the expectations of a large chain restaurant similar to Olive Garden. Once the expectations are set, it was a nice place to be reminded of traditional American dining of yore with a similar clientele to match. We just sat down for the dessert pies which hit the spot to end our cravings. The pecan pie, apple cobbler, and banana cream pie were all pretty tasty. Albeit a little mass manufactured but still a place to reminisce about childhood flavors.

+1

Mason Severe

Marie Callender's is always great for that down-home country feel and you have a hankering for some good cornbread and comfort food. I've been going to this particular location since I was pretty young and I always enjoy the classic feel here. Ample parking, quick service, and friendly waiters! This last time we came for their seasonal peach pie which is usually sold out but we were able to get one of the last few and it was delicious!

+3

Bruce S.

Went for an early dinner the other day. This is the only M. C. left in the bay area. The service was excellent and the food 3.5 stars. You get corn bread which is very good and moist. The open faced turkey sandwich is good and moist. It's roasted turkey, apple sage stuffing, giblet gravy on grilled sourdough bread. Served with mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. The Chardonnay was good and reasonably priced.

Virgil Osburg

Food was mediocre at best. We were there at 7pm and the first thing they did was look at the clock and then let us know the salad bar closes at 7:30 numerous times. My wife didn't eat her food and was given back half of the price and my Frisco burger wasn't like they used to be like. It's sad all the good old comfort food places have sold out. I will never go back.

Deborah Flores

Called ahead to get their hours, they said they closed at 9 pm, then drove an hour and a half to arrive for dinner at 7:30 and there’s a sign on their door that they closed early. Night ruined, wasted gas. I don’t even know how to rate this because it’s feeling like a 1 star right now.

eduardo mendoza

I am writing to express my severe dissatisfaction regarding my experience picking up a pre-ordered Thanksgiving meal on the morning of November 27th. Upon arrival at 10:00 AM, the restaurant was unexpectedly crowded. After bypassing the main line to inquire about my online order, I was directed by the front desk cashier to an outside area at the back of the building designated for pickup. The scene in the pickup area was disorganized, and I observed numerous other customers expressing extreme unhappiness. The primary and most critical issue was the condition of the pre-ordered food. My $329 meal, intended for immediate holiday serving, was found to be cold, and in some components, reportedly frozen or uncooked. It is wholly unacceptable to provide pre-ordered, high-value holiday meals—which customers depend on for their celebrations—in a state that is not ready-to-eat, or that requires extensive, unexpected cooking or thawing. I literally pay 329$ to fine out my food isn’t cooked …? No thank you. I’m not ever coming back to this place.

Penny Peeters

The food was okay the booth that me and my family absolutely filthy the booth seats slid under neath me. where I was able to see. that I did not want to see! There was nasty old greasy food. And with moldy food in between the seats if I seen this before I ate I would have left. I know times are hard and people are getting angry! I work hard myself. So when I want to take my family out for a decent dinner I would like to have a decent dinner I'm not saying the food was bad or the staff was bad everybody was wonderful but sometimes people need to step back pay attention and respect each other please keep it clean