Tell Us Your Favorite PJ’s Moments
- PJ's Restaurant & Cocktail
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Since 1956, the address 3721 San Pablo Dam Road, El Sobrante, CA has been a gathering point for friends, family, and community. The building first opened as Bob’s Steakhouse under Pete and Joan Peterson, later becoming El Toro Mexican Foods before evolving into PJ’s. The name “PJ’s” came from Pete and Joan’s initials, a nod to the couple who first built its legacy of good food and good company. In 1980, the Givogri family purchased the business, kept the PJ’s name, and ran the restaurant for more than forty years.
The location is deeply tied to the story of El Sobrante and to San Pablo Dam Road itself, a major East Bay route that connects neighborhoods through the valley to the bay. Over the decades, the building has carried many flavors and traditions — from steakhouse classics to hearty Mexican plates to its most recent identity as a beloved neighborhood bar and grill. Under the Givogri family, PJ’s became known for its warm service, familiar faces, and welcoming bar scene. Many locals remember longtime bartender Hector Quijas as part of what made PJ’s feel like home.
Today, the Padia family, longtime patrons and friends of the Givogri family, are bringing PJ’s into a new chapter with renewed energy and community spirit. Their vision blends fresh Italian and American flavors with the same heart that has always defined the restaurant. They believe PJ’s is more than a place to eat — it is a place to connect, celebrate, and belong.
As part of the reopening, the PJ’s team invites the community to share memories of the past and ideas for the future. A short survey asks about your favorite dishes, special moments, and what you would like to see on the menu as PJ’s begins this new era. You can also include your email to stay updated on events, specials, and reopening news.
If you have a great PJ’s story — a favorite meal, a photo, or a memory with friends — please take a moment to share it. The Padia family and the PJ’s team are collecting stories that capture what makes this place so loved. Together, we can celebrate the past while shaping the next chapter of PJ’s Restaurant & Cocktail.
