A Friday Night Home Run at Penryn Grill!…read more This was our third visit to Penryn Grill, and someone suggested we come back on a Friday night for the clam chowder and fish & chips. Let me just say...it was absolutely worth the return trip! First, the clam chowder. My wife gave it a 10 out of 10, and that's saying something because she's a self-proclaimed clam chowder snob. She rarely finds a chowder that can compete with her favorite spots in Monterey. Well...hallelujah--we finally found one! The bread bowl deserves its own standing ovation. It tasted like fresh sourdough that had just come out of the oven--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and absolutely delicious. Normally you finish the chowder and leave most of the bread behind. Not this time. I ate every single bite of that bread bowl. It was simply scrumptious. The fish and chips were equally impressive. They served a huge plank of fish that was lightly battered and cooked perfectly. Too many restaurants hide a tiny piece of fish under a mountain of batter, leaving you feeling disappointed (and overly full). Not Penryn Grill. The fish was fresh, flaky, and outstanding. In fact, it was the first time in our 43 years of marriage that I've seen my wife finish every bite of her fish and chips! The chips were another pleasant surprise. Instead of the usual thick fries, they were thinly shaved, perfectly seasoned, and absolutely addictive. We'd never had them prepared that way before, and they were a home run. Of course, I couldn't leave without ordering what I consider Penryn Grill's signature dish--the shrimp tacos. They are hands down the best around. Perfectly seasoned, loaded with flavor, and honestly worthy of ordering every single visit. The atmosphere was terrific. We loved the live '80s music, the service was fantastic as always, and our waitress graciously endured my terrible jokes with a smile. That's five-star service in my book. As retirees, we're always on the hunt for a place that serves a great meal at a great value, and Penryn Grill checks every box. One tip: If you're planning to go on a Friday for the chowder and fish & chips, arrive between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. They regularly sell out--and after this meal, it's easy to understand why. We'll definitely be back...again!

Bun too small for the stacks of meat! I ordered the brisket sandwich and it was pretty darn tasty…read more The sandwich is overloaded with tender slices with a good smoky flavor. The beer selection and service are fine. When in the establishment, it is easy to forget it is attached to a gas station. Outdoor seating with nice fireplaces are available but this time, it was too hot for me. I will likely return to try out other menu items.

The best burger within miles of Auburn for the price. They have great fries and very good shakes…read more The vibe is very laid back and the staff is very friendly. We love this place and will keep coming back.

Thanks a lot. Only open at the most inconvenient hours. Came in before 8, got settled and then were…read moretold "we're Closed." I explained that we had come in before closing time, and we were still not served. It's hard enough to get in here when the place is closed at 4 on Sundays, and closed completely on Mondays and Tuesdays. I really like the food here but this leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. How are we supposed to support a local business when they're never open when we need them to be? It is too tricky to keep track of their fussy hours. Guess I'll get my burgers elsewhere.

During my visit to Auburn, CA, I checked out Grumpy's. This is a real cool spot to grab a burger…read moreand watch a game. They have plenty of TV's in the bar area and a huge TV in the main dining area. I ordered the Nor-Cal Burger and it was great. Smash burger done right. Onion rings were also cooked perfectly & I loved the ranch sauce that came with it. We had grear customer service from all the staff working on Saturday night.

Grumpy Burger in Auburn did not disappoint…read more I ordered the patty melt and it was everything it should be--cheesy, melty, and straight-up delicious. Comfort food done right. I also love a good walk-up, order, and pay setup--quick, easy, no fuss. Bonus points for the good ice (you know the kind). Parking was a breeze with a big lot, and there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, so it never feels cramped. The staff was kind and efficient, which always makes the food taste even better. Solid spot, solid vibes, and I'll definitely be back.

Good pit stop with a decent market to browse next door…read more Mushroom burger - 10/10 Patties were tasty, bun was solid, mushroom and onions were superb. Onion rings - 10/10 Very very very good. Sweet potato fries - 8/10 Good. Wish they were crispier.

A perfect little pit stop for your fruit and lunch needs. Fruit is slightly on the pricier side but…read moreif you think about it from a farmers market approach, cost is about average then. Food was made to order so there was a little wait, but not bad. The burger and fries was tasty, but I wouldn't say it's something particularly special you should go out of your way for. Parking can sometimes be challenging with the number of visitors that frequent here.

We hosted our son and future daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at Auburn Alehouse, and it was…read moreabsolutely phenomenal. We feel so blessed that this special evening took place there. Lisa Ford, the co-owner, went above and beyond in every possible way. She designed a menu within our budget, created a customized bar menu, and she and her amazing team decorated, cooked, served, and made the patio feel warm, beautiful, and welcoming. They truly handled everything with such care and excellence. We were able to play our own customized Spotify playlist on the back patio for a fun Yacht Rock Friday night feeling, and their IT/AV support, Randy, helped us play a personalized video of the couple on the patio TV throughout the evening. It made the night feel even more personal and special. The food was truly the chef's kiss, the beer by Brian Ford, co-owner and brewmaster, was incredible, and the service was outstanding. Trista and the wait staff were fun, attentive, and made our guests feel so well taken care of. One of the best parts of the evening was seeing our son and daughter-in-love so happy and surrounded by incredible family and friends who enjoyed honoring and celebrating them. Our guests could not stop talking about how wonderful the food, service, atmosphere, and overall experience were. Auburn Alehouse is family-owned, community-forward, and an incredible craft brewpub. It is a wonderful place for private events, date nights, gatherings, celebrations, or simply a great meal with great beer. If you are in Auburn, driving from Reno to the Bay Area, or heading up the mountain, stop here. They are also a fantastic choice for private events and can work with your budget. They even host private events at their Annex across the street. We are so grateful we chose Auburn Alehouse for such an important family celebration. Highly recommend! We will be back - over & over & over! Huge Mahalo Lisa & Brian!!

I really enjoy coming here. Staff is friendly portions are sizable, restrooms are clean. I would…read morerecommend the cilantro bowl, the clam chowder, their burgers pretty decent. And they have a cauliflower dish that's pretty crazy. Their brews are pretty outstanding as well. If you're looking for Bud Light or Miller light or Coors light or any of those things you're not gonna find that here. It's a brewery.

pastrami sandwich was tender and milkshakes were sweet…read more fast service and clean ambiance outdoor dining was comfy. highly recommend to try this place; certainly worth it.

I liked this place a lot more than I thought I would…read more I stopped in mostly for milkshakes, thinking the burgers would be a bit lame, but my western burger was really quite delicious. The milkshakes are indeed good as well, and my chocolate malt hit the spot. The fries are fine, they came out thick cut and crispy. One word of advice: you need a fork and knife to eat the chili cheeseburger. My husband was sorely disappointed by the fact that it is not a typical hand held burger. Overall good!

I woke up on Sunday and decided I needed a milkshake. It was the only thing in the world I wanted…read more I looked for places near me to get one, because I didn't wanna make it myself and this restaurant popped up. I have thought about trying it for sometime, and Sunday was the day. I got my person off of his computer game and we drove down to a decently busy drive through, so we decided to go inside as we wanted to review the menu anyways. The restaurant was clean and cute, almost set up like a little diner. THIS PLACE HAS EVERYTHING. or at least every fast food type item I wanted to see on the menu. We ordered chicken strip basket, a jalapeño burger, a chocolate shake and fried zucchini. There was at least 40 other things on the menu that I wanted to order, but figured this was a solid order for our first time. There was a little confusion with the cashier over the jalapeño burger, but I refuse to dock stars for a cashier who looked like they were still in training. The important part of the mix up, was the chef came out to clarify exactly what we wanted, so it was never really a problem to begin with. That chocolate shake has been living in my head rent free ever since, because it was perfect. The jalapeño burger (we ended up with 3 patties instead of two, per the menu confusion) basically brought tears to my partners eyes because it was so perfect. And they actually season their fries!!! I would give 6 stars if I could. Don't sleep on this gem. Whether you would call it a drive in or just fast food it is AWESOME.

We've had Burger Shack on our list for a while. We love stopping by old school drive in type burger…read moreshops for a no frills, just good food experience. We stopped in later in the evening for dinner and got the mushroom cheeseburger combo ($12.99), the Pastrami Cheeseburger combo ($14.99), cheese curds ($5.99) and fried okra ($5.99). They gave us our drinks right away and they have the nice crushed ice that's like tiny pebbles. It's always a treat when a spot has this ice because it's tiny and crunchy and not offered a lot. The food didn't take too long and came out on a tray for our dine in experience. There are plenty of booths here and during our visit there were a lot of other people enjoying meals in small groups and couples. The food was hot and fresh and the fries were nicely cooked crinkle cut fries. The fried okra as good, but needed a bit more seasoning or sauce to dip (we had ranch). The cheese curds were great, hot and the cheese was perfectly melty. My husband got the mushroom cheeseburger with just mushrooms, cheese, pickles and added bacon. He said it was a good burger and satisfied his craving, but isn't something he'd specifically seek out. I got the pastrami burger with everything on it and thought it was delicious, but the pastrami was a bit overcooked and dried out so the texture was a bit hard to bite through with the burger and I found myself eating the pastrami separately from the burger. There's plenty of parking here and they have a drive through. I heard the milkshakes are great, so if we stop by again we'll try one.