We would give zero stars if that was an option... We decided to stop for breakfast on our way to Quincy because we were here years ago and loved it. It's now called Christy's and today's experience was awful. We arrived a little after 10 and were seated out back right away and brought menus and water. Almost 30 minutes go by as we're watching the two servers serve, seat and take orders from people - everyone except us. Once our order was finally taken, we learn they're out of bacon and sausage which is an option for one of our meals (canadian bacon and chorizo were available but we don't like either so not an option for us). While that was a bummer, at least our order was taken. Another 20+ minutes go by, and there is now another table seated just near us and the woman who seated us is bringing them drinks and menus and takes their order within a few minutes of them being seated. We hear her telling them about the special which we weren't told about. As she was walking away from them, I asked her if our server was her or the man who eventually took our order and she told me "whoever is available" is our server. I'm not sure if the person in charge is aware of the poor customer service here but a couple of other tables were showing signs of frustration, too. After waiting for another 20'ish minutes and still no food, we let our servers (?) know we decided to leave and we had a picnic at the lake with stuff we brought. Very enjoyable - I highly recommend it. On our way out, I saw the server tell the kitchen we left and everyone looking surprised. A woman was looking at me so I asked if there was someone available to listen about why we're leaving and a different woman stepped forward and listened. She offered to make it right, we told her we'd already been here almost an hour with no food so it's too late for us, but we thanked her for listening and left. We don't come this way often and I don't think we'd try again now that it's a new owner. All that said, the patio is a lovely spot for a meal with a view. read more

Carol's is now called Christi's but it's still the same great food, service and atmosphere. If your on the patio, you're treated to a beautiful view of the lake. Our group of seven, and we were service was friendly and professional. Food is hearty and tasty. A treat. A perfect spot. read more

Carol is not only an amazing baker, she also demonstrates a key attribute of a great leader. No matter who is working for her, they actively present her context of welcoming friendly professionalism. 3 breakfasts were perfectly cooked, superb omelets, tasty home fries with an option of two incredible muffins different every day. She also makes one of best salsas I've ever had. If I drank I would have ordered her Bloody Mary which comes with a thick slice of bacon. Her place is not that fancy but if you serve great food with a superb attitude, ya can't eat ambience. The road to heaven is lined with her pies. Worth more than what she charges. read more

We've been to Carol's a few times over the years and a few traits always stand out about this place - all homemade, charming location, kind, hardworking servers and great service. Had an amazing Sunday breakfast this morning. We took our boat over and used their complimentary guest docks while dining! The French toast was golden perfection made of Carol's home made bread and the eggs and bacon dish my husband has was the best bacon we've had in a while. Thicker crisp not too salty & tasty. Topped it off with a few good sized mimosas and a nap later in the boat felt needed! A few years back I visited while jogging on the trail nearby and my cell phone died and they graciously let me use their phone. I had the most amazing milkshake that trip I won't forget! The homemade pies look amazing as well and sticky buns.. will have to give them a try next trip. Highly recommend. read more

Carol's Cafe - the inside of the restaurant - American Near Me - Prattville, California

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My husband and I had breakfast here 2 days in a row. Delicious omelets made to order. One of the few with real delicious bacon bits. Coffee drinks are excellent and just straight coffee is as well. Now, with the service...cheery, attentive and hustle to make even a big crowd efficiently servers. Dogs are welcomed on the deck. Going to come back for a good breakfast that can't be beat!!' read more

Carol's never disappoints. They have great food, lovely ambience, and wonderful service year after year.

Great food, great service and cool cabin feel deck to stare at the lake while eating breakfast.

Caroll Franchetti has hosted a group of 40-60 men twice a year for a numberr of years. My experience in the last few years is consistent with the men who she's hosted from the beginning. She is gracious, welcoming, and attentive. Her crew is usually different every time and her qualities as a leader are reflected in the staff who help her. Her skill and talent as a chef and leader appear with every meal: tasty, hot, and abundant. If her performance with regular dining is anything like attending to handling 40-60 voracious men, then I highly recommend Carol's Cafe. Her smile is as great as her food. PS My bride and I look forward to dining there when we rent a nearby cabin in August. Abraham Glazer read more

Classic place for breakfast by Lake Almanor! Been going there for many years, always very satisfied and love the people and atmosphere.

I have been going here in the summertime since I was a kid. It is one of the only restaurants in the area of Pratville. They are open currently Friday-Sunday for breakfast and lunch. The best thing on the menu I think is the eggs Benedict. I get it almost every time but there are plenty of other items that are amazing. Get the hash browns for the side they are the best! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I also really like their pancakes! You can order pies from them too! They do gluten free options! read more

Such an adorable little woodsy breakfast / lunch spot! Fantastic food with a few unique menu options along with the staples. Not greasy at all, which usually happens at these places. Everything's freshly made and not cheaped out. Definitely stop by if you're in the area! read more

We came on Father's Day for the Sunday chicken dinner. I honestly can't say I actually enjoyed anything I had. The biscuits were mushy and cold, the mashed potatoes were flavorless, and the chocolate cake was dry and not worth eating. However most egregiously the chicken was cold. We were told it was reheated from earlier, which is sad considering we were dining at 6PM. The only thing I thought was decent was the corn casserole, but that wasn't very good either. Overall I absolutely cannot recommend the chicken dinner. Which is sad because everyone was very nice, the restaurant was clean and cozy, and I can only imagine breakfast must be better. read more

Fantastic breakfast and lunch, lake views, breakfast burritos, mimosas, fun! Carol has been in business at the same location for over 50 years now, still going strong for breakfast and lunch all summer long. read more

Everything is delicious and homemade. Go for the fresh muffins and stay for Mary's favorite omelette and many many more gems. Highly recommend!! read more

Love this joint -- and Carol still runs the place! She has great staff, very cool old school "Mayberry" vibe and stellar menu, featuring their entire breakfast AND lunch ALL DAY (they close at 2 p.m.ish). My entire family loved everything they ordered... my 70-something parents, pre-teen nieces, my mid-40s self: everyone was happy. From classic eggs benny to their club sandwich... all amazing. Sadly we were too full for but hear Carol's is known for that. Next time read more

I feel the only reason this place has any decent reviews is because there is only one other option for food within a 10-15 mile radius and it's in a beautiful area. What a weird and sad place. We were staying up there for the week for my partners work. I was acting as the house mom. We will be back in that area and will not be eating at Carol's. Twice, we attempted to get coffee in the morning. Walked in around 9am and there was one table with people. The restaurant was clustered and looked unkempt and not very clean. The server looked at us and gave us a face like "why are you here?" and said nothing. I walked up to the counter and waited. The little odd barista girl walked out and a young guy. The first time they had no espresso, just drip coffee and chai. That's fine. One of my colleagues wanted iced coffee so he asked for a glass of ice to poor the coffee over. He said they looked at him like he was nuts. He said the drip coffee was nasty. I ordered a chai. The chai was so disgusting that I threw it out after 3 sips. It tasted like warm milk with slight weird taste. They didn't have proper to go cups either. I had a styrofoam cup with a normal lid. Drinking a hot drink in the car with a cup like that is hazardous. We were told they would have espresso the next day. I pulled up at 7:50 and they had both an open and closed sign up and there was a delivery truck taking up all the parking spaces. I found a spot away from the restaurant and walked in. 2 or three employees were walking around and no one acknowledged me. This was almost 2 hours after they were supposed to be open. So I left. I drove back to the house which was fortunately only 2 minutes away. I waited about 15 minutes and went back. I walked back in and it was just as awkward, but the awkward barista girl was there and took my order. I sat down at the counter and my hands stuck to the counter. It was sooooooo gross. I looked around as she was making the drinks and it just looked run down and not clean. I ordered: 1 iced caramel latte 1 iced latte 1 Chai 2 Toasted marshmallow lattes The last 4 drinks ALL tasted like warm milk again with barely any taste. The Iced caramel latte tasted burnt and the caramel was gnarly. We were contemplating going back for breakfast on Friday morning, but truly felt like we shouldn't after the weird coffee experiences, unfriendly people and the fact that the place just didn't seem clean. It's a shame because some of the menu sounded really good! Maybe they are off since it's the beginning of the season and I do know that area has suffered a lot of devastation, but I don't think that's an excuse for unfriendliness and such bad coffee/drinks. read more

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I stayed at Wilson's camp site next door and ate at Carol's once. The place is very small and not so clean. Staff are not very friendly to non-locals. Food was mediocre at best but corn beef hash for breakfast was very greasy. Tried again Sunday afternoon for lunch but got there at 1:45pm and was turned away since they closed at 2:00pm. They opened again at 4:30pm for dinner so I tried again. This time I was turned away again due to restrictions only for buffet. There was no advertisement of this event so I was surprised and it was unexpected of such a small place that would turn away business. I ate instead down the road at Plumas pines Resort & Bar, which was open at all hours and the food was great. I mentioned the reservation issue I had at Carol's and they were also surprised. They are locals and did not know of this issue. Anyway, I would recommend staying away from Carol's unless absolutely necessary, maybe coffee, in case your cabin did not stock it for you!! read more

Great food, Great Service. We had a party of 18 and they were very accommodating and even though they let us know they only had one cook at the time, the food still came out pretty quickly and delicious. We will definitely come back when in the area. read more

Great food. Serves breakfast all day. Friendly severers! Cook as you order so it takes a bit of time! But worth it.

Snippy lady at the front informed us that there would be an hour wait - though there were a lot of empty tables. Didn't need the attitude in the morning read more

What a gem of restaurant Carols Cafe is in the High Sierras of California near Lake Almanor. Myself and my parents came here for breakfast last week. I had the Blueberry pancakes that were loaded with huge blueberries and a side of bacon. I will say this is the best breakfast location in Plumas county. Highly recommend this Cafe. read more

Always have a great time beautiful atmosphere and amazingly friendly staff we try to go there at least once or twice a summer if we can. We are never disappointed with the food. We always order a whole pie to go when we book our reservation. read more

Love this place. Went there 3 days in a row because of the service and food. Keep up the good work all

Have you been looking for the best cafe on a road trip ever? I found it!!! I would drive to Lake Almanor just to eat here. The food is all fresh ingredients - like farm to table, although I'm not sure if that's true. Just taste that way. And the staff are awesome - especially if you like to talk to your server (and cook through your server :) Ask for Mary, she's so much FUN and will give you the inside scoop not only on the menu, but the latest from The Smithsonian Science review. This is my new favorite cafe in the middle of no where! read more

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Had a lovely lunch on the deck in the sun. My wife and friend loved the chicken sandwich with her onion rings. I went for the turkey club and carols coleslaw, more than a meal for 1 person. Fish and chips were tried and was very good. Lots of flavors...enjoy read more

Ordered pie to go. Server said only blackberry available. I said ok. She went to back and brought slices out already in styrofoam containers which I didn't open until we got back to cabin. Both crusts terribly burnt!!! Yuck!! read more

Always a great spot when visiting. Breakfast and coffee. Friendly service. Good food.

We are here on Sunday which featured Carol's famous Fried Chicken, Mash potatoes and Corn. The taste was a bit bland (compared to KFC) although she's being hand frying her own chicken for 41 years. This place is super popular amongst the older Lake Almanor crowd as we heard about this place from two couples who we met while staying at a local B&B. Call ahead to make reservations if you want to sit outside; or else you'll be stuck indoors with a slightly slanted flooring. See my photos for the "fish in jail" or "fish bastille" that I ate. Prices were $$. Marionberry pie was pretty good. read more

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We had made in person reservations a week ahead for a party of 6 at 6pm for Sunday dinner. When we arrived, they didn't have us down. It went downhill from there, no prime rib- switched to ribs, 10 minutes later...another sorry, no ribs. I ended up not eating, and the other 5 were not happy with their meals- Too bad, but one bad experience ends here for us. read more

Fantastic place to eat at Lake Almanor. I've been coming here for years and have never been disappointed. Outside seating with views of the lake. Try Carol's homemade pies and cakes. Excellent service as well. read more

Two of us went on a Sunday morning. We get it, it was busy and understaffed. This was not the reason why we are upset. The table across from us received excellent service and we were blatantly ignored the whole time. Had to yell out many times just to get a cup of coffee. Even had to get our own utensils. Food was good, but will most definitely never be returning. read more

Carol's homemade Blueberry Muffins are absolutely to die for! Best BB Muffins I've ever had! I had the Corned Beef Hash, homemade as well - I could tell - and that was simply amazing too! The young lady who served us was stellar - friendly, attentive and professional! Next time - and every time we come back to Chester/Lake Almanor - we will look forward to visiting Carol's again. read more

Great breakfast place! Good service even with all the COVID restrictions. Good value. read more

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Great country cooking, relaxed and fun. Super friendly staff and the food came out quick despite that there were a few families here for breakfast. I get the sense they don't run the place with too many servers, so wouldn't suggest coming here if rushed. Rather let the sun come up over the trees and take your time. Dog friendly deck. They have a dock so come by boat. And if you like corned beef hash, this is the best I've had. read more

Best corned beef hash ever! We drive our boat up to the dock for breakfast or lunch, for the last 40 years, love this rustic cafe with outdoor patio. We also ride our bikes here from the Lake Almanor Recreation Trail, coolest bike trail we have ever ridden. We also had the chicken tostada appetizer while riding through on bikes with a cold beer. Coming here for decades, it's a must stop when you're at Lake Almanor! read more

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The food is pretty good. The give you huge portions of everything. I was visiting the adjacent campground and ate her several times last week. The first night, I had a pasta dish with a pesto cream sauce. Unfortunately, the dish did not have enough salt so it was extremely bland. We came back for the Sunday fried chicken dinner. This was a great meal and I highly recommend trying it. The chicken was tender and juicy and it comes with homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, corn on the cob, and biscuits. The last night, I splurged ($32) on a ribeye with a delicious, rich sauce made with peppercorns and horseradish. The steak was perfectly cooked and very tender. The sauce was a little over-salted, but still very good. The wait staff was always very friendly. However, the service was exceedingly slow on the first two nights. I suspect that the issue was with the kitchen, since the women waiting tables were always moving. Here are the reasons I did not give them 5 stars: We only ate on the beautiful deck on the first night due to the large number of flies out there. I don't know what that was about, but we stayed inside after that. Inside, it was VERY hot every time we were in. There was one window a/c unit that didn't seem to be doing the trick. The food was extremely expensive. I'll give them that since they probably make most of their annual sales during the short summer season. However, at those prices, I expect to have a comfortable place to eat and the food should be properly seasoned and the service should be exceptional. I paid over $20 for a pie to take home and when I cut into it the peach filling hadn't thickened properly causing the bottom to be a soggy mess...bummer. I did not complain about the food problems while we were there because it had taken us so long to get our food I just did not want to wait for them to re-make the pasta sauce. I just salted it. The steak sauce was just slightly over-salted and the mean was amazing...again, was not wanting to wait during dinner rush. I would definitely go back for that chicken! It was worth all of the other food issues. If you order their Cosmopolitan, be prepared. Mine came in a big old iced tea glass and was super strong, which was fun! read more

I don't use this Yelp thing very much but here I will review a place that has fed me on many occasions for over three decades. Recently visited for about the ~1000th time, this time on July 4th with 7 adults, a small dog, and a newborn. We sat on the deck. Servers were friendly and the food was piled high and off the chain with bold flavors, as usual. Some favorite menu and/or daily-special selections over the years: Benedicts Pancakes Patty melts Biscuits and gravy Any pie ever Beer taps: in addition to Sierra Nevada, typically one or two local beers from Lassen Ale Works or The Brewing Lair My grandparents ate at Carol's. My parents eat at Carol's. I eat at Carol's. My son will eat at Carol's. Long live Carol's. Eat at Carol's. read more

No visit to Lake Almanor is complete with tasting a bite of Carol's pie. All the food here is good hearty country fare, especially the Sunday Fried Chicken Dinner, but the pie is the standout memory and what keeps me coming back. Carol loves to cook and has been making amazing pies longer than I've been alive. I've tried and loved the Strawberry Rhubarb, Apple Crisp, Pecan, Blackberry and Peach. All to die for. The last time I was there, I had the BBQ ribs, which were smokey and a little crispy on the outside. Perfect. Carol does breakfast lunch and dinner and everything here is good. Sitting on the back deck is a great way to unwind for lunch after renting a ski boat or jetski at nearby Major's Outpost. I try to come here every time I'm up at Almanor. read more

Just an addon: we went back for Carol's once a week Sunday Dinner, It was amazing!

Three stars for the food, especially the Sunday night fried chicken dinner, which was tasty. Unfortunately, that is being generous considering the level of service. We went on the Sunday night before Labor Day. I had a reservation for a party of 6 at 5:00 to sit on the outdoor deck. We arrived at the appointed time and waited. And waited. And waited to be acknowledged at the hostess stand outside. By the time I went into the restaurant to find someone to seat us there was a small line forming behind us. When the gentleman who was running the podium finally collected us he stated that he had seated another party of 6 and though it was us. Remember this was at 5PM. There were not a lot of customers at that point and how hard is it to check a list and what is the point of making a reservation anyway if you are going to have to wait ten minutes to be seated? But I digress. Our waitress was a very nice lady; I think her name was Mary. Her intentions were good and she was courteous and professional, but here's the thing: Mary had the entire deck (12 or 15 tables) for her station and zero help except from the aforementioned host/busser/manager (?) who was clearly overwhelmed. Two of us had the fried chicken, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Two had prime rib which they judged to be good but nothing special. One had crab cakes (average) and the other a cheeseburger. Overall, the food was average. I just can't stand sitting at a table full of empty glasses and dirty dishes for 20 minutes after we are done eating waiting for a check. Having been a waiter for years it drives me bonkers. Maybe someone did not show up for work that night but if that was the case they should have let us know. By the time we left the deck was full and tables were waiting for everything. I might try this place for the chicken again but I hope the next time they have proper staffing, especially for a holiday weekend. But given the other reviews on this site it appears to be a regular issue with this restaurant. read more