My family and I always come here and they never fail to make us feel welcome, happy, and satisfied…read more The food is your classic American style diner but with beyond meat and plant-based options for vegan and vegetarian friends. Our server, Arcy (please forgive me if I spelled your name wrong!) is always lovely and just a delight to be around. She is very knowledgeable and is very helpful with any questions we have. As far as the restaurant itself, it's very in touch with the mountain, cabin vibe. It's very comforting and a nice change from your average diner. It's safe to say that my family and I will come back as we've done the years before on our trips to Idyllwild.

My girlfriend was craving a fat, juicy, pink in the middle burger and the winner of the selection…read moretonight was The Lumber Mill. It was their unique burgers that caught our eye so we decided to come in and see what's good. The first thing I noticed is that their prices seem a bit pricey for a burger and fries but all the prices here in Idyllwild are elevated so these prices are in alignment with other restaurants. And for me as the prices get higher so does my scrutiny of the food and overall experience. My reason for 3 stars instead of 4 is price vs amount of food you get - and the fact that they charge $5 for a Dr. Pepper. That's a bit obscene in my books, so 3 stars. Now the details... I was gonna get a pastrami burger ($20.99) until I noticed the Bacon Lovers ($19.99) and I'm a huge bacon lover and this is the first time I've ever seen a bacon lovers burger so I had to go with it. It is a juicy beef patty stuffed with bacon bits & topped with American cheese, more bacon and 1000 island dressing served on a brioche bun. They cooked it to a perfect med rare and it was really good. It comes with your choice of side (fries, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans or garlic mashed potato's. You can upgrade to fried pickes, zucchini, sweet potato fries, onion rings or corn nuggets for $2.50 and our waitress was raving about the beer battered onion rings so I chose those. The burger was great and so were the onion rings, however as you can see from the picture, there were not many onion rings AT ALL. I don't mind a $2.50 upgrade charge but give me some onion rings PLEASE!! Not happy about the quantity fr that upcharge! My girlfriend got the Wild Western burger ($20.99) which is a juicy beef patty topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce & onion rings. She didn't really like it much. She also upgraded to fried zucchini and she didn't much care for those either. It seems like there are good things here and some not great things here. If there is something ypu want to try here, I would go through the reviews and see what people are saying about it. Again, I feel like I got taken advantage of with that up charge on the 6 onion rings they gave me, but they did deliver on how good they are. I would recommend doing your research before ordering here.

Hal is the best bartender, hands down. Personable, friendly and she makes a mean drink. Ask for Hal…read morewhen you make it to the Brewpub. Can't miss.

Best restaurant I've been to in Idyllwild. Great mountain-town atmosphere, relaxed vibe, and super…read moreeasy with both a baby and a dog. Burger: 9.3/10 3rd Stone From the Sun Saison: 9.2/10 Exactly the kind of place you want to eat at when you're in Idyllwild. Highly recommend.

Please open the grill on the weekends. We've Been eating grilled burgers/chicken here at the gas…read morestation about twice a month for the past year. An unassuming location this place is. Great value for a home-style grilled burger, or a grilled chicken-breast sandwich. If the grill were open on Saturday and Sunday, me think the line would be out the door, as it is at Mama's Egg House or the Red Kettle on a Saturday or Sunday. Grill Open Monday-Fri

I usually only write favorable reviews but must save anyone thinking about going here. Slow…read moreservice. A man who could only be the owner /manager talking loudly on his phone while sitting at a table in the dining room. Some sort of boss because he bellowed at the kitchen door until one of the cooks came out to talk to him. Burger ordered medium rare served well done. Also the saltiest piece of meat I've ever tried to eat. Server never came back to the table so I could get things fixed. I had to go to the waitress station to get my check and pay. Girl asked me if everything was good. I said no. Only response I got was a blank stare

We chose Cafe Aroma for a birthday dinner and were so happy we did!…read more The bread with garlic in olive oil was a perfect light starter. My husband also enjoyed an old fashioned that was excellent. For dinner he husband ordered the ragu, and I had the penne in creamy basil (without shrimp). Both dishes came out quickly, were well prepared, and completely satisfying. Service was extremely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. We reserved the patio so we could bring our pup, and the staff immediately offered her water, pets, and even a treat. I always appreciate a restaurant that makes dogs feel welcome rather than like an inconvenience. The patio also had a lovely ambiance, with white tablecloths and the same polished table settings as indoors. My only minor note was the live music. The singer was fairly loud and close to the tables, which made conversation difficult. Instrumental music might fit the early dinner atmosphere a little better. If you prefer a quieter meal, dining indoors may be the better choice. Overall, a great birthday dinner and a wonderful experience!

I read a bunch of the 1-star reviews. I read some of the…read more4-star reviews. I have to go with 5-star tho. OVERVIEW of 5 : Seated without reservation (*make one! We got lucky*) Server was amazing Food expediter was super nice Food was delicious Elegant, fine dining experience Music was my mountain playlist (and not too loud) View of mountains for me. View of architecture for my wife. PARKING: Parking can be difficult in the small lot, but there's parking along the street too. INSIDE: It was perfect weather. 68ºF at 6pm after a warm day. They have "indoor/patio" style seating which may be difficult for some to access by multiple steps. We were seated at the top, a table away from the music, along the window side. They have heat lamps - but temps were perfect (lots of people and hot food warmed everyone up). I wanted to walk around the restaurant. The tiered architecture is interesting. FOOD: High End Vegan! Yes - I'm guilty of wanting to give them 5 stars just looking at their vegan menu. (And omnivore selection) Yes - I appreciate the care that it takes to prepare a plate. BUT This food was just delicious by itself. Even in a cardboard box, this food would've been amazing. VEGAN "cheese" appetizer (great for 2-3 people) Nut cheese was warm and tangy. This is NOT just cashews and nooch in a blender. It is spiced with something that brings a little heat. *you will want to lick the bowl. PRO TIP: The welcome bread with ... oh shit.... WELCOME BREAD / Garlic Olive Oil This crusty bread served with microplaned garlic + olive oil is fantastic. Garlic Fiend? You're gonna love this. Not a fan of garlic? What's wrong with you?! I mean... just serve from the oil side. Save some bread for your vegan cheese.... VEGAN CHEESE (cont.) Order the gluten free bread (a little more like Uti's toasted dinner roll) with your vegan cheese app. Omnivores at your table will be surprised how well this vegan cheese and wine pair with each other. TROUT I think my wife got the trout. She loved it. Light and delicate. VEGAN KIMCHI TOFU I've had kimchi. I've had tofu. We all have. This was prepared on a bed of roasty veg that was a great match to the salty kimchi. I don't know if there was a marinade preparation (sesame paste?) with the tofu, or it was made locally, or both, but this firm tofu was excellent. Sweet. Nutty. Salty. Fresh tasting and filling. The vegan menu here isn't just an "alternate version" of an omnivore dish. It is its own thing. DESSERT MISTAKE = not getting it. We thought there would be dessert in town, but we got out late. Town had closed. MUSIC Tonight's music was a pair of musicians playing CS&N, Neil Young, Bob Seger... acoustic session: Guitar, Violin, Mandolin. Quiet & sentimental performance was a perfect accompaniment to a long hike day. THERE ARE 1-STAR REVIEWS of this place. They have their reasons. I've only been here once. But I experienced NONE of the things they've mentioned. Moreover, we experienced even better than what other 5-star reviews suggested. This is an elegant spot, framed by a perfect day in Idyllwild. If I come back to the town, I will want to try other restaurants, but I'll definitely come back here. Not *just* because of their vegan options, but definitely *for* their vegan options.

My server Brian is great the food is outstanding got to sit and chat with Marshal Hawkins and his…read morelovely wife Desiree. Plus listen to an excellent trio playing European Gypsy style songs Couldn't finish the pork chop which was the best I've ever eaten. This is Italian elevated for sure !!! Come up and get some soon ( Frank did not pay me for this review! )

We decided to give this place a try, and to be honest, we weren't expecting anything extraordinary…read more We couldn't have been more wrong. Since we didn't have reservations, we were seated at the bar, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. Our bartender and server, I believe her name was Katie, was outstanding. She was friendly, attentive, and made the entire experience even more enjoyable. We started with a couple of glasses of wine and the Insalata Burrata with heirloom tomatoes, fresh burrata, basil, olive oil, prosecco vinegar, local microgreens, Maldon salt, and freshly ground black pepper. It was incredibly fresh, beautifully balanced, and the perfect way to begin the meal. For our entrées, we ordered the Lasagne di Verdure with seasonal vegetables, house-made ricotta, mozzarella, marinara, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The house-made ricotta was absolutely incredible and elevated the entire dish, making it an easy favorite. We also shared the Salame e Funghi pizza with San Marzano tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and mushrooms. The thin, wood-fired crust had the perfect texture, and the pizza easily rivaled--if not surpassed--many restaurants that specialize in pizza. To finish the evening, we couldn't pass on the Torta di Nocciole, a flourless hazelnut cake served with vanilla gelato, a drizzle of local raw honey, and freshly grated nutmeg. It was the perfect ending to an outstanding meal--rich, balanced, and absolutely delicious. From the exceptional service to the thoughtfully prepared food, every part of our visit exceeded our expectations. We only wish there were a location closer to home. We'll definitely be back, hopefully sooner rather than later. Thank you for an unforgettable meal and outstanding hospitality!

Jen was awesome. we always have a great experience when we eat here. The food is amazing and the…read moreatmosphere is great.

My wonderful friends Wayne and Roger were married here so I knew off the bat that the ambiance was…read moregoing to be cozy and beautiful. The service was great, waiters and host William, were attentive. We had a great time enjoying the view from the window, the rain was falling outside and we were side of the fireplace. My boyfriend loved his steak, said it was prepared just the way he likes it. I ordered penne pasta with veggies vegan style it was delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a date night or family gathering.

Had prime rib tacos they were very good…read more I ordered the molten lava chocolate cake and did not get it Then the manager brought me the right one Makes me happy

I ordered the Peak Burger asked for no red onions. It was served with red onions. My wife order…read morethe tri tip medium rare. It was served medium. An order of Orange Chicken was ordered. Tasted like . If you dine here, I wish you luck for what you are going to get at an above reasonable price. Only reason I'm giving a 2 star rating is because the service was good and the ambiance as well.

These hotdogs are delicious! A great tasting sausage, each item on the menu clearly crafted to near…read moreperfection. I tried the "Tijuana Dick" and it was great. As a self proclaimed "hot dog lover", this is one of the best hot dogs I have ever had! The pickled jalapeños really elevates the dog. Dicks Dogs is a food truck with a few benches available around for seating. Given that Idyllwild is a small town, everything is already at a premium - these hot dogs included. Tijuana Dog is almost $15. If you're a hot dog lover, definitely check them out, you wont be disappointed!

Food truck option for hot dogs. We ended up here cuz we tried the bakery but their grill was…read moreunavailable so we got a brownie to split and a donut only there. Their dogs were delicious, the bun was soft. I had a simple one with only relish, hubs and Doc chose two different ones. Several people ordered from here. There was a tented area with table and chairs. It was sufficient for lunch.

What a charming theater and eatery in Idyllwild. I'm happy in some ways we almost stumbled upon…read morethis place by accident. I was craving a quick bite and saw that this spot had a lot of signage for appetizers, small bites and movie theater snacks. While I normally wouldn't be as inclined to grab food from a theater when there are so many restaurants around, I saw that this spot wasn't yet busy and knew I needed to grab something on the go so I gave them a chance. The theatre inside is actually adorable and old timey. Small but first the old town vibe. They had a lot of decor, some arcade looking games and general move theater decor. A gentleman was working behind the counter and was super friendly and nice. Told him I was just wanting to grab a hotdog to go and he whipped it up right away. This gave me time to make a pit bathroom stop and they were clean and easy to access from inside. Didn't have to buy a movie ticket to use, just purchase food or such. It was all an easy and nice experience for wanting something on the go and no fuss. Friendly service, cheap bites and a cute atmosphere. Mind you the simple hotdog was actually delicious and a 5/5. Wow! I'd love to come back to watch a movie and grab some small bites. Nice place, friendly staff and a cute vibe.

Don't waste your time or money here. I recently had a bad experience with the service and products…read moreat this establishment. I brought it up and was directed to the owners. The owners were intoxicated and became very aggressive told me to get over it. The husband called me a miserable c-word and chased me to my car. I am in my 70's. Beware

We really enjoyed this asian inspired fusionish brunch spot. They have good food and even have…read morekimchi making classes. We tried the kimchi Reuben and it was a hit. It was a surprising combination, but it worked well. Almost like a substitute for sauerkraut. Also came with fries which were the right amount of crispy. Delicious food here.

An unexpected breakfast treat. We arrived to Idlewild the evening before on a Tuesday. We found…read moreout that most of the downtown area is closed down and I was hungry. We found the MileHigh Cafe. What a culinary treat. My wife had the avocado toast with her fluffy eggs. They gave a ample serving of avocado, which is unusual. The eggs were prepared the way she likes them and the coffee was fresh great flavor and strong I had eggs Benedict wow the sauce for the eggs Benedict is made from scratch the Canadian bacon it was real, I did help my wife eat a good portion of her sourdough bread . the greatest treat was having homemade strawberry jam presented The whole meal was wonderful and the atmosphere open clean and inviting. unexpected experience and I look forward to going back there.