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    Lake Henshaw Cafe

    3.3 (113 reviews)

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    Martha M.

    Came here one day from driving back from Julian. There are only far few & better restaurants out here especially if you live off of or nearby highway 79. But they're all not open 7 days a week, mostly just weekends & hours vary open late/closing early. I know this restaurant is closed 2-3 (?) days out of the week but open for all 3 meals closing at 8pm. Anyhow, service was good (our server was doing it all & so sweet), food was good & cozy atmosphere, though it can get crowded during the summer. We'll definitely come back, there aren't very many restaurants coming up from Aguanga to here unless you go back to Temecula, (Cahuilla Casino restaurant, Anza) or towards Julian Ramona/or further San Diego county rural or city. And the other ones are more bar atmosphere (which are fine when you're in the mood) except for the one golf resort with prolonged food wait times unless your part of the local inner circle.

    Breakfast
    Robert Z.

    Visited again 8/7/2022 This was my 4th time eating here. Last time 3 days ago I had The Fried Chicken and was quite pleased with how Crunchy on the outside and tender and Juicy it was on the inside. Great flavor and comes with a large Salad and large Baked Potato. It won't be the last time I order THE Chicken. Tonight I went with The Patty Melt with a side of the Homemade Potato Salad. The Patty Melt was delish and the Potato Salad was very tasty. Next time I'll be trying the old standby Cafe Style, The Bacon Cheeseburger. So far everything I've tried here has been good. That's a good thing for a Little Country Cafe. Well worth the stop.

    My breakfast minus a little potato.

    My wife and I were staying about a mile outside Julian. Breakfast spots were limited. We were driving along Hwy 76, and found this place. It was about 10:30 am. We ordered breakfast. My wife got an omelet that she said was the best one she has ever had. I had sausage and eggs with hash browns and toast. What a great meal. And the waitress/cashier/whatever was great as well. Sho's omelette had mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach inside them. On top was fresh avocado and crumbled goat feta.

    Chun P.

    This place doesn't look like much from the outside, especially on a quiet Monday afternoon...but its 1 of 2 eateries in a 10 mile radius, and the other is a biker bar. Inside it is clean, with some taxidermy deer to keep you company, and a friendly enough waitress. $12 bought me a shockingly delicious, meaty, greasy and juicy patty melt. I really wasn't expecting it to be this good! The fries were average, but still better than In N Out's fries. Covid19 is still wreaking havoc in America, but for a second I considered dining in since it was just me and one other solo diner in this clean joint...but then a maskless local walked in, took a seat at the bar, and breathed on all the exposed silverware behind the low bar...so I got my lunch to go.

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    2 years ago

    Just no. Used the restroom while I was waiting for a menu. Feces on the toilets and floor. Blood on the toilet paper roll. No lie.

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    3 years ago

    Just Had Lunch the food was great and the waitress was very nice i'll be back soon also great view

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was really good and fairly priced. Amelia was very nice. Nice stop on the way back from the desert. Thanks.

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    3 years ago

    A hidden gem! Great breakfast. The Chicken Fried steak was awesome. Nice view of the lake. Friendly staff.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Good food great prices. Service great too. Nice view to the lake too. Don't miss it .

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Nice relaxed place to eat. No crowds, great service and excellent comfort food. The Taco Salad is one of my favorites.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Lake Henshaw Cafe

    Review Highlights - Lake Henshaw Cafe

    We travel often between Borrego Springs and Palomar Mountain and make a stop at the Lake Henshaw Cafe.

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    Orchard Hill - Turkeys

    Orchard Hill

    4.4(167 reviews)
    13.9 mi
    $$$

    Arrival makes you feel you have reached a place you dreamt about. In amongst the tall pines…read morewhispering with a sound that soothes the sole. The front desk cannot do enough to please at every turn. Fresh basket of hot fresh brewed coffee and special Coffee Cakes every morning. Happy Hour at 4:30 with fresh hors d'oeuvres and an excellent full service bar, all in front of a large custom fireplace in large cozy couches & Chairs. Heavy soft and warm bathrobes and a bed to make your day feel like it was worth every minute.The location is a short walk into the Village where you can find excellent restaurants like "Romano's (Great Italian food and service) and The Julian Cafe (To die for Breakfast and more). Orchard Hill has a nice flowing stream running down hill into a pond full of goldfish in and around the heavy pines. You will love your stay and will not want to leave. Enjoy.

    Orchard Hill is truly a gem. It's a peaceful getaway. The lobby, bar, and restaurant is the perfect…read moreway to relax after a long day where you can sit by the fire in some very comfortable furniture. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating - they even had free cookies for us to take. We stayed in the Gladstone room and was extremely comfortable and had a private balcony. As a heads up, the jacuzzi tub is also the shower. You will have to hold the shower head while you bathe - but you get used to it. They also have a creek on the property which is perfect to grab some coffee and stumble around. They also have a ton of outdoor sitting next to fire pits. Would love to come back and stay some more nights here. This would be an amazing venue to get married at if you are looking.

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    Orchard Hill
    Orchard Hill
    Orchard Hill

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    The New Inn - Very spacious bathroom with a separate tub and shower with a glimpse of the outdoors.

    The New Inn

    4.9(301 reviews)
    28.3 mi

    I can't speak highly enough about the New Inn! We spent 3 nights here early April 2026. Both the…read moreaccommodations and grounds are immaculate. The inn has a warm and inviting atmosphere and Alicia and her staff are second to none. They were always present and available I went above and beyond for any requests. Breakfast was delivered to our room every morning fresh and hot (not to mention delicious). There was great variety and fruit was fresh. There are great snacks available including charcuterie boards and smores kits. There is also a great selection of wine in the rooms from local wineries. We enjoyed our snacks and beverages on our beautiful private outdoor patio each morning and evening overlooking the vineyards. The fire table and lights were nice touches. We spent some time at the pool too. The bed was very comfortable and room and bathroom were very clean and spacious. No detail was overlooked in designing / decorating the spaces. We will definitely be back! Thank you for everything Alicia!

    The New Inn Hotel in Temecula was nothing short of magical. The hotel itself is intimate and…read moreincredibly beautiful, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere from the moment you arrive. Our room was spacious, spotless, and truly dreamy. One of the highlights was the porch with a fireplace, which offered stunning views for both sunrise and sunset--an unforgettable way to start and end the day. The staff was amazing and extremely attentive, going above and beyond to make our stay special. The breakfast-in-bed style service was a wonderful touch and very accommodating, adding to the overall charm and comfort of the experience. With all that said, they truly deserve an additional five stars for the incredible role they played in helping me create a magical wedding proposal. Their attention to detail, care, and genuine effort turned an already beautiful stay into a once-in-a-lifetime moment. My then girlfriend--now my fiancé--was completely blown away. I cannot recommend The New Inn Hotel enough for anyone looking for romance, elegance, and exceptional service

    Photos
    The New Inn - The new breakfast room delivery is awesome

    The new breakfast room delivery is awesome

    The New Inn - Vaulted ceilings done right, contemporary, and clean, not overdone.

    Vaulted ceilings done right, contemporary, and clean, not overdone.

    The New Inn - A beautiful welcome at the grand foyer at The New Inn.

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    A beautiful welcome at the grand foyer at The New Inn.

    South Coast Winery Resort & Spa - Wild Horse Syrah

    South Coast Winery Resort & Spa

    3.6(2.4k reviews)
    26.8 mi
    $$

    First stop on our wine tour. The guy that helped us was on Point with his dry and sweet wine…read moreknowledge. He went through his little tutorial of each wine, what was in it, what you could smell or taste. My daughter asked him about stronger wine's which he was happy to go into detail about. They had a barrel wine, which my daughter loved, then I had to ask "hey do you have a port". Yes they do, a delicious, exquisite, red port and a white port. I purchased one. Oh and the little shareable menu please try their homemade hummus. It was delicious. I will be coming back here for our anniversary to stay at one of the villa's. And don't forget to stop in the gift shop there were so many cute things in there.

    Explored a couple wineries this past weekend starting with South Coast…read more I'll keep it brief-this place was nice. The atmosphere, ambience and environment was nice and clean. Even on a nice Saturday afternoon during brunch hours, it wasn't too crowded or busy at all. We mostly stayed in the tasting room then went in the member's lounge for bit before taking a walk outside. It's pretty spacious, attracting more of a mature older crowd, if that's your thing. The staff we encountered were all enthusiastic. They even had a taco guy there near the member's lounge which was great- they had a mushroom taco for my veggie people and a cheese quesadilla for the vegetarians. While I had a good time, I'm not sure I'd ever come back here. It wasn't bad, just nothing compelling me to come back-especially since I'm not a drinker, just came to explore with some friends. I'm particularly looking for the winery with the best brunch menu and an interesting crowd of people, which I didn't find here. If you enjoy wine, good scenery and a somewhat lokey spot where you can get out, yet, still have some space to yourself and escape the crowds, this is probably the winery for you.

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    South Coast Winery Resort & Spa - Mediterranean Salad

    Mediterranean Salad

    South Coast Winery Resort & Spa - This is a restroom outside near the front events venue. Very clean and maintained.

    This is a restroom outside near the front events venue. Very clean and maintained.

    South Coast Winery Resort & Spa - This is the outdoor patio where I really enjoy sitting and drinking my wine and having some appetizers the vibe out here is like no other

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    This is the outdoor patio where I really enjoy sitting and drinking my wine and having some appetizers the vibe out here is like no other

    Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - Amazing sunset over the lake

    Lake Cuyamaca Lodge

    4.3(29 reviews)
    19.5 mi
    $$

    Very nice and relaxing boutique hotel and spa. Beautiful views of the lake. We saw several deer…read moreroaming the grounds. A great place to get away from the stress of life. The on-site manager. Sarah and the general manager Josh were very friendly and knowledgeable about the area. The included breakfast was light, tasty and healthy. There are yoga, meditation, a jacuzzi and massage available. We enjoyed our time there.

    Myself and part of the film crew were lodged here in October 2015. We were welcomed in while still…read moreunder renovation. Doors did not lock and not all furniture was unpacked so we had to put it together ourselves. While the view and the birds were spectacular, our hosts were not. We would leave work and things would be moved around when we came back, which was invasive and perplexing since there was no maid service in the four weeks we stayed. On several occasions after working the grave shift in the early morning there would be knocks on our doors and occasionally fire alarms would be set off. One day after days of our doors never locking (both the hallway and sliding glass doors) they decided to do maintenance to finally have the doors properly lock, and lock them when they were done. Well because none of the doors to our rooms locked many of us stopped carrying the keys, and upon arriving to locked doors it was hard to get in contact to be let into our rooms. As much as we appreciated being lodged in this clean facility, we could have done away with the hostility and confiscation of personal property from our rooms.

    Photos
    Lake Cuyamaca Lodge - Outside the lodge another amazing sunset view.

    Outside the lodge another amazing sunset view.

    Lake Cuyamaca Lodge
    Lake Cuyamaca Lodge

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    Julian Gold Rush Hotel - Their famous homemade granola - it was lovely!

    Julian Gold Rush Hotel

    4.5(505 reviews)
    14.1 mi
    $$

    Charming B&B! Like stepping back in time, the hotel is filled with antique furniture and historic…read moretouches ( never fear the plumbing is modern!) As noted in other reviews the rooms are small- my husband and I are NOT small, we managed! The tall bed was comfortable and there was a helpful step placed in the closet so I did not have to resort to a high jump to get in. The bed was comfy. Breakfast was ok- I have a food allergy and staff had to scramble to accommodate it. I didn't think of it when we made the reservations, so that is on me. STAFF WAS AMAZING! Warm, friendly and filled with recommendations on where to eat ( dinner- and of course APPLE PIE!) We all agreed (we were traveling with others) that we would like to come and stay again. When you take into account the afternoon tea and a full breakfast, it's downright budget friendly!

    My wife and I stayed in the Julian Gold Rush Hotel for two nights few weeks ago. Here are some pros…read moreand cons: Pros: Price, our room was $155 / night. That would probably pay for parking in San Diego hotels. This is a historic building and an interesting attraction in its own right. Breakfast is included and it was terrific. Food is expensive in Julian. A similar breakfast at a local restaurant would be $20. The staff are great. I met several day managers and the night security guy. They are all terrific people. It is really like staying in someone's home rather than a hotel. These is no TV. I think that belongs with the pros. The location is great. Right in the middle of town. Cons: Our room was tiny. Really tiny. Use the drawers and closets for your stuff so you don't trip over it. A side effect of the smallness of the room is that the heater/ac struggles to control the temperature . The design of any heater/ac unit presumes a room volume. The room is so tiny, the heater's built in control parameters are way off. Parking, parking is "street parking" and on a weekend, it's every man for himself. You may have to drag your bags a block or two. ---------------------- So would we stay there again? Absolutely. I would probably spend a bit more and get one of the small number of larger rooms, if available. If you want to relax and read, I cannot think of a better place. One thing I should mention, if you attempt to make reservations on line, there are half a dozen fake web sites imitating the hotel. They are put up by a dodgy travel company. They are really good imitations. I even an experienced computer user could be fooled. It is best just to call them.

    Photos
    Julian Gold Rush Hotel - Room 10 - the haunted room!!! :-o

    Room 10 - the haunted room!!! :-o

    Julian Gold Rush Hotel - They start their breakfast service with their famous granola and it's delicious!

    They start their breakfast service with their famous granola and it's delicious!

    Julian Gold Rush Hotel - One of the games in the game room

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    One of the games in the game room

    Cabin At Strawberry Hill - enchanting!

    Cabin At Strawberry Hill

    4.7(13 reviews)
    15.1 mi
    $$$

    A complaint has been filed with the US Department of Justice as Nan has openly discriminated…read moreagainst my husband for having to have a hearing service dog and used wildlife specifically deer around the cabin as an excuse to charge us a lot more to stay in the larger "pet friendly" artist loft instead of the smaller 2 person cozy cabin at Strawberry Hill we requested. It's against the ADA requirements- Q. Can hotels assign designated rooms for guests with service animals? A. No. A guest with a disability who uses a service animal must be provided the same opportunity to reserve any available room as other guests without disabilities. They may not be restricted to "pet-friendly" rooms. As for her flimsy excuse about the wildlife even though I assured her we follow the service dog rules of bathing her before trips and keeping her on a close leash. She never has barked EVER. We have never heard her voice! She was trained to not chase or even look at other animals she turns away. She is a well trained service dog from two well know legitimate organizations and is licensed. Even though by law we don't have to show her I offered to show Nan the CA service dog license and her training paperwork and card my husband carries showing who trained her and that she is allowed in ambulances and hospitals too. I explained all the tasks that she does to help my husband with his hearing loss and explained why we wouldn't allow her to ever be close to wildlife for her safety too. All in all Nan went on and on about how she had to close off the cabins before and after the dates because of covid and aerosols and the cost of insurance, the cost of doing business so it appears as if she used the excuse of wildlife and bad past experiences with people lying about pets being service animals to make us pay more by booking the larger pet friendly cabin. I kept saying my husband's service dog is not a pet and she wouldn't listen. 27 minutes on the phone I listened to her discriminate against my husband before asking one more time if since she was insisting we stay in the large pet cabin with the 3 beds we don't need could she at least just charge us the cost of the strawberry cabin since we aren't supposed to be penalized with increased charges because of my husband's disability and she said No. So I finally said well I'm going to report you and hung up. I did double check just in case there was a change in the last few weeks but there wasn't. I called the CA state park in Julian and spoke with the ranger which is the same wildlife, same forest as Nans property and they assured me that service dogs are still allowed in cabins there AND even on trails. He assured me that my husband's service dog would not interfere with the deer under her cabin at all!!! That the people staying in the cabins and even her 6 cats roaming the property could interfere more. Her excuse was a flimsy way to try to extort more money out of us. Maybe someone who was trying to pass a pet off as a service dog would have been fine with this since she does have no pets on her listings BUT a legitimate well trained service dog is NOT a pet and we know the law and we are proud of the amazing job the dog does that is potentially life saving. It's sad we are missing out what appears to be a cute cabin but I'm glad we aren't monetarily supporting disabled discrimination.

    This is truly one of the most amazing cabin stays we have experienced in years. There is…read moreabsolutely nothing offensive about this property, not even a hint. The hosts, Chuck and Nan, live close by, and make themselves available, but are not doting. They have carefully crafted this cabin, a true labor of love, to be enjoyed by guests. Less than ten minutes to town, but you feel like you're out in the country, away from everything. Stellar A+ views, comfortable furnishings, a wood-burning stove as the centerpiece, with all the amenities for cooking, relaxing, and simply embracing the sense of wonder for creation and nature. Unlike any place we've stayed in Julian, where we've been coming for New Years for the past decade. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    Cabin At Strawberry Hill - Inside Strawberry Cabin, from the bed toward the fireplace and kitchen

    Inside Strawberry Cabin, from the bed toward the fireplace and kitchen

    Cabin At Strawberry Hill - The porch at Strawberry Cabin

    The porch at Strawberry Cabin

    Cabin At Strawberry Hill - The shower and bath tub at Strawberry Hill Cabin

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    The shower and bath tub at Strawberry Hill Cabin

    Lake Henshaw Cafe - resorts - Updated May 2026

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