I was very pleasantly surprised by the food. Most small tourist place's have bad food. But our food was very good and fresh. I asked for my salmon medium rare and it was cooked perfectly. read more

If your near Pinecrest Lake Check Out the Steam Donkey. Warning! Packed in the summer.Great Continental Dinner. The deck is great weather permitting. Service can be slow, but be patient. Food is worth the wait read more

We have been coming to Pinecrest since 1969....old school. The steam donkey opened in the early 70's. Every meal we had there has been awesome. Please look at the cooking station and you will appreciate the cook working there in that small space... definitely an art. Don't expect the food to come out right away due to the one Chef cooking you food in the small kitchen. Have patience and when comes you will be rewarded!! Here's to the the Chef at the Steam Donkey!!! read more

What ever you do don't let them give you Shawn as a server. The WORST!!!! I went to the steam donkey with my girlfriend and my my two kids, ages eight and six. We had to get a reservation after 3 pm, why? I have no clue the place was empty except the bar and even then there was half the tables inside were empty when we left. When we entered the host was bright, smiling and polite. They were able to seat us ten minutes early. I thought this was a start to a great experience, I was wrong. Garret came over maybe a minute or two after being seated and took our drink order. Two ice teas, a coke and a Shirley temple. He returned with the drinks minus the maraschino cherries. We asked about the missing cherries and garret went back to the bar and returned quite quickly only to inform us that they were out. We thought that it was weird that they ran out when the general store is 100 ft away. He left our table and then there seemed to be a problem between staffing so bad that they had to have their argument at the host station right at the front door. I do hope no one came in at that point. It did sound like a argument over our table because we were the only ones seated inside. After the argument we had Shawn as a waiter. I'll just start by saying Horrible. This guy is either the first time waiting tables or has no clue what he is doing or both. After waiting 15 minutes after getting out drinks Shawn finally came to the table to take our orders. We had two kids sirloins one with noodles and one with mashed potatoes, a kids spareribs with mashed potatoes and a sirloin and shrimp with mashed potatoes. He took our order and left. We still at this point thought we were having good service. Then he came back to the table. Repeated our order. Wrong. So we had to repeat our order again. He apologized because they don't normally do kids meals for adults but it was ok. We thought ok if that was a problem then tell us when we ordered. He came back again asking about who had what dressing on their salad. I was the only one that had a regular meal that came with a salad but he tried to say my daughter ordered a salad with ranch. We told him no hers doesn't come with a salad. He apologized again because the kids meal for my girlfriend ordered is throwing him off. He left and came back 5 minutes later with my salad. He returned again to go over the order and apologize again for the fact that they don't normally have adults order off the kids menu. We explained My girlfriend wasn't hungry enough for a full meal and if it was to be a problem then he should have said something when we ordered because it is obviously a problem. (I don't get how it is a problem, what if I came in with three kids and myself). When the food finally came out there was two kids meals and two regular sirloins. And the sides were wrong on three of the plates. I got lucky that my son was hungry because he put down the full portion of sirloin. Garret came by and asked how we were doing and we told him that we wish we had him as a server. He was polite and knew how to serve a table, ladies first. After we were done we were sitting for a while till the kids were getting restless so my girlfriend took them to walk around the sporting goods store. I still waiting five more minutes till the host came by and asked if I wanted a box and the check. I was so over the experience that when the check came I just signed it and left. It wasn't till the next day and two hundred miles away I noticed that we were charged for two adult meals and two kids meals. Even if I noticed it while I was there who was I supposed to talk to, I have a feeling it would be Shawn and I would have blown up on his dumb ass. To conclude The restaurant is really cool atmosphere but the service seems to think since they are the only restaurant in the resort that some of the waiters can just not care and do as they please. Go for a short drive and go to cold springs or Sonora. read more

Celebrated our anniversary dinner here since in town for a family wedding. A little gem in the wilderness, this was a nice surprise for us. My husband had the lamb and I had the filet mignon. The filet was perfectly cooked medium rare and so tender I could cut it with my fork. My husbands lamb was also amazing. Definitely recommend this place. Our service was great! read more

There are three reasons to drive to the Stanislaus Forest--fishing, snow skiing and a cocktail at the cozy Steam Donkey Bar. This place serves up the best mixed drinks on the mountain. Rhonda, the weekend bartender, makes the most incredible margarita. If you get the Patrón Tequila, it will set you back $8, but it's worth it. It's only a few miles away from Dodge Ridge, so after a day of skiing--it's the perfect adult beverage. It seems like a locals only kind of joint, so we got the half-cocked how'd-you-know-about-this-place-look from our fellow bar flies. The burgers were good, served on a toasted Ciabatta roll with a mixed greens salad. There's a restaurant attached to the small bar serving everything from rack of lamb to burgers. If it's crowded, buckle up for a wait. There's one guy (the chef) with a four-burner stove. If you watch from the bar, you can see he's working his ass off. If you need a few odds and ends, you can scoop them up at the mini-market next door. read more

When I camp I cook good food. Pinterest is my friend when planning my gourmet camping menu. The last night of camping we ate at the Steam Donkey. AMAZING! Not only that the service was outstanding. Key advice, make a reservation early (before you leave for your weekend) because the place fills up fast. You won't be disappointed. read more

Very very nice place. Sit on the back patio if you go during the summer, it's very beautiful. It's a bit high priced but it is worth it. The steak was excellent as we're the mashed potatoes. The soup was excellent as well. Service was great, our waitress was very sweet. Definitely give the Steam Donkey a try. read more

The steam donkey that is not just the name but a good indicator as to how long you have to wait for your food. The server was quick and we got a drink right away but the food took so long we could not wait anymore. Leave the kids and drink there That's its real appeal read more

David and I came here for a drink at the bar and ended up having dinner. The bartender was great and social which make things great. The primerib was the BOMB!!!!!!...a must have when you dine here. Just wish they had PEAR CIDER. read more

We loved this place so much we got married here. Great food, great service. Our waiter "Garrett" on many occasions made our dinner special!

Went for dinner here after a day on the slopes at Dodge Ridge and to be honest I was a little skeptical when I walked in it looks more like a bar than a restaurant and I was pretty hungry so I asked the bar tender if they served the entire menu at the bar so I sat down and ordered a beer and the atmosphere won me over I guess. I ended up ordering the pork chop and Jake the Chef did an amazing job! The chop what plump and juicy the apple bacon chutney was sweet and paired great with the salty succulence of the chop. I cannot say enough good things about this place. I will definitely be back. read more

The Steam Donkey - The Pork Chop - American Near Me - Pinecrest, California

Chose to give this place a try and were pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. Rustic setting with local art on the wall for sale. Nice wine & beer selection and small but nicely stocked bar with 5-6 stools. They played great classic rock & roll that we really enjoyed. There was also a TV with a game on. Lunch Menu had a nice selection of salads, sandwiches and burgers with a turkey & vege option as well. Prices were less than expected considering there were not many other options I had a burger & the wife had a grilled chicken sandwich both were good and I was impressed to learn it was all cooked on a small stovetop to the right of the bar. As mentioned in other reviews, the staff is young but they were very polite. "My pleasure" was a phrase used a lot...this is something you don't here often enough. This is a place we will be back to. read more

I've been coming here on and off for 35 years. Until yesterday, I hadn't been here in about six or seven years. It was good to be in Pinecrest and good to be back at "The Donkey". My wife and I came here for lunch. We didn't have a reservation but were cheerfully greeted and seated on the deck in the back. We indulged in one glass of wine each, which we ordered off of a respectable wine list. Their lunch menu is burger-centric. We both had intended to eat lighter but we went for the burgers. Neither of us was asked if how we wanted our burgers. Both came out well done (which my wife is always happy with but if asked I would have ordered mine medium). My bacon cheddar cheese burger was very good. My wife enjoyed her cheese burger. We both liked the fries as well, which were tasty and perfectly cooked. Service was by come college-aged kids. They were friendly and attentive. My only feedback is that "no problem" or "not a problem" were commonly used phrases. When I say "thank you" the response should be "you're welcome". When I say "may I please have some Dijon mustard" the response should be "certainly". I admit that this is almost quibbling but it does happen to be a peeve of mine. We were happy with our meal and the service, and look forward to visiting "The Donkey" on our next trip back to Pinecrest. read more

The restaurant was nearly empty (maybe 8 people total) and service was very slow. The server seemed very stressed which probably means it was a kitchen issue but slow service aside I had a veggie burger and was pleasantly surprised! It wasn't a hard little puck of beige like a lot of places serve but it was pretty substantial and tasted great. Don't expect something house made and fancy, its still clearly a frozen burger but hey at least they didn't skimp on the type of frozen burger! The fries though are clearly frozen from a bag- I had expectations of thicker cut or maybe even seasoned fries from a tavern-like place like this but no just your run of the mill not great not bad frozen shoestring fries. A bug redeeming quality is the lovely outdoor seating space, you must sit outside when you go. read more

First off, our server Garret was the sweetest and so attentive! Started off telling us about the specials, got us some cocktails and then we each got the shrimp and sirloin cooked MR. Boyfriends was maybe a M+... mine was medium well, which was a bummer and the only reason we knocked a star off. Garret brought us fresh bread that was still steaming, delicious seafood chowder, kept our drinks full and was professional, knowledgeable, courteous, quick-witted and overall just delightful. Garret, if you're reading this we want you to know... No, the pleasure was absolutely ours. read more

Donkey Burger 2/5 Fries 1/5 Water 1/5 (you can taste that it's tap and very low quality) Waitress 5/5 Would not come here again since quality of food is very low and can cause an upset stomach. They had tons of flies swarming the place and it was very unpleasant to dine here. read more

My friends and I camped at Pinecrest and this year, we decided to keep the food planning easy and just eat at the restaurant on site. We looked on Yelp and saw that the wait times can be long, so we made a reservation. When we arrived, we were immediately warned that the wait for our food could be long, because there was a big party ahead of us and the cook was cooking on a stove the size of your family stove... maybe even smaller. To our nice surprise, the food came out relatively quickly (considering). Pretty amazing, I'd say... cuz we saw the cooking area and they weren' t kidding! Super small. Our entrees came out nice and hot - and super tasty. I ordered the special of the day, which was rib eye steak with melted brie. Yummy yummy for my tummy! The prices were decent too, normal steakhouse prices. I thought it might be higher, since it's the only restaurant in the whole campsite. Overall, nice service and great food. Can't get better than that! PS. LOVE the name of the place! read more

Had the steam donkey burger was excellent!! Lol I had an encounter with "Winky" a raccoon that lives around the restaurant he was friendly lol...I posted a lil pic of him. read more

The Steam Donkey - Winky the raccoon....Lol - American Near Me - Pinecrest, California

The Steam Donkey offers a wide selection of entrees, which are served with pasta and a small salad. Jake was the chef when we had dinner and he obviously took pride in the quality and efficiency of his work. Good food combined with good service resulted in an excellent experience. read more

Went here last night for dinner. The atmosphere is nice, especially on the back porch area. My boyfriend and I both ordered the burger. It took nearly an hour for the food to come out and from the moment we sat down until we finally got the food, the servers did not check in with us one time until we started asking where the food was and they kept reassuring us it was on the plate. This was not true because it took another 10 minutes. By the time we finally got the food it was clear that they had rush cooked it because the cheese on the burger had not begun to melt. The burger was sub par. I came in with low expectations and really just wanted a simple burger. The experience was not ideal. They offered us another glass of wine on the house but if they expect people to pay what they're asking (for a burger) then they need significant improvement in the service area. read more

Stopped by here today for a quick bit to eat, fast service and good food. I had the pesto chicken sandwich and it was delightful!

My friend and I had lunch there the other day. We had the vegetarian burger. It was great. Wine was great. Service was great ! We will be back ! read more

Hubby and I had a wonderful dinner at The Steam Donkey. Food was excellent- rack of lamb for me- cooked to perfection and Wild Salmon for Hubby and he also loved his. We had a couple of very good margarita's at the bar while we waited for our table and had a lovely bottle of Pinot from their fantastic wine list. Friendly service. Impressed and we definitely recommend! read more

Did not taste the food, but the bar was a lot of fun when our group showed up the other weekend. The Shot Ski was pretty cool...picture five shot glasses in little indents on a ski. Lift up the ski and tilt it, so five people take the shots at the same time. It's pretty awesome. read more

The Steam Donkey - The entrance. - American Near Me - Pinecrest, California

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We love eating here. We often order the rack of lamb. It has always been cooked exactly as we ordered it. Medium for me. Yummy! As to the lamb, the preparation and presentation is top notch. We often request lemon slices and squeeze them over the lamb and ignore the sauce they serve in a small cup on the plate. Adding to the experience is the kitchen itself. It is small and situated by the dining room, so depending where you are seated, you can watch the food preparation. They sure do select skilled chiefs. read more

Surprisingly delish dinner -- with thoughtful garnish touches! Our prawns were cooked perfectly, and the dinner salad was fresh & crunchy. We were amazed at the reasonably-priced drinks. All in all, a lovely dinner in the woods! read more

Excellent food, excellent service! Highly recommend the sirloin steak! Make sure to make reservations a day or two in advance since seating is limited due to Covid. read more

No trip to Pinecrest is complete without a visit to the steam donkey! :) Descent prices on shots and beers.

This has been my third time in Pinecrest. Every time we go to The Steam Donkey for lunch or dinner. And every time we have the best eating experience. The food is delicious, plentiful, and beautifully served. I would especially recommend dinner. Their entrees we ordered are all great and their complementary soups and salads deserve a special thanks. The chef does awesome job. We will definitely come again! read more

I went into the steam donkey with an open mind and low expectations...And boy did they deliver! Couldn't order food to eat at the bar (wasn't allowed), and also wasn't allowed to order it to go. So we had to eat our mediocre burgers in the dining area watching the game on a 14-inch tv, without fries because they told us a large group of 4 men had already eaten them all. But they did offer to substitute them with bowl of Ruffles crumbs. Mind you the place had been open for 45 mins. Wouldn't eat here again if they paid me. read more

I've been a visitor to Pinecrest since the early 70's (when I was about 3) and my parents would bring us to the Donkey as a "treat" from the regular camping menu. It was indeed always a treat! I love this place so much that my husband and I had our wedding on the lake and rehearsal dinner at the "Donkey" and it was a fantastic success! I think we had TOO much fun, food and happiness under the stars on the back deck that we were wiped for our big day 10 years ago this September! They accomodated over 20 people easily in their tiny little cooking space. We are looking forward to sharing and celebrating our 10 year anniversary with the great people of Pinecrest/Strawberry and especially the Donkey! We'll be calling in our reservations real soon! read more

They make the best chicken salads you will ever experience this chicken salad is DELICIOUS! The ingredients they use are fresh and a warm grilled chicken breast for a powerful punch. What can I say besides, YUM?! The service is fast, and the prices are more than fair. If you love chicken salad, you need to come try this. read more

The Steam Donkey - What can I say besides, YUM!!! - American Near Me - Pinecrest, California

Went in when it was empty, took about 20 minutes to get our drinks ordered by the waiter and the other male waiter was polite but the wait was at least a good 40 minutes for our food. We ordered 3 burgers and the soup of the day all our burgers and the buns were burnt the fries were stale, as if they had been sitting for a while and got cold. My friend got food poisoning from the soup of the day which was Tomato basil. The prices were kinda high, probably because they were the only restaurant in the area. I paid $3 for a soda that was 6oz or so, it was ridiculous. The wait, the terrible food, and the prices.... I recommend bringing food to BBQ instead. read more

This place never disappoints! We were there again today, for lunch. They were obeying all the Covid laws/suggestions. Made us feel very comfortable. The food was beyond belief, just totally excellent. We drive an hour and 45 minutes to be there, and will continue to do so. read more

Had a lovely dinner there; grilled salmon, garlic smashed (with skins) potatoes and green beans. Good food and decent atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Incredible chocolate cake for dessert! read more

The name of this restaurant totally throws you off. You, however, will be pleasantly surprised by the delicious food and excellent service. Garrett (AKA Junior ) is a jewel. He makes you feel as if you are dining in a Michelin rated restaurant. My husband and I ate here two nights in a row and had the halibut, filet mignon, steam donkey burger, and New Zealand lamb chops. We loved each and every meal. The drinks were also very generous and wine list was impressive. We highly recommend this restaurant for a very yummy meal and great service. read more

Been coming to the steam donkey since I was a young child. Was always an upbeat fun place to be with great service and food. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when my family and i were treated like lepers by staff. I came in with a party of 7 which we had reservations for and planned our week of dinners accordingly. Now granted we did not have masks because we were told we didn t need them for outdoor dining. There were three people on staff that night. The cook and two servers. One server was a young guy and the other was an elderly man both extremely unfriendly with zero personality. So as we begged them to let us dine there and that we would cover our faces with our shirts or use napkins they continued to deny us with no masks saying we needed them to walk through the restaurant to the patio. As we were coming to grips with our denial of service a whole party walked through the restaurant to exit with no masks. We pointed this out to them and yet they still would not allow us entry. At this point the cook came out and was very rude as well. To top off our disappointment as we walked away a young couple was allowed right in with no masks. To say I was infuriated at this point is an understatement. Around camp for the next couple days I spoke with alot of folks about my experience and it seems its pretty common to receive horrible service at the steam donkey. Not to mention almost everyone said there food was cold and overcooked. To the owners of the steam donkey be careful who you hire because these folks are ruining your establishment. Will never be dining there again unless these people are gone. And I will be advising everyone else I know or come across to do the same. I was there on July 17th, 2020. Sad that this is what the steam donkey has become. read more

Great cozy, inviting little spot with tons of charm and personality. Jake creates some amazing food in the tiniest little kitchen and Sam was friendly and pleasant to talk to while he made sure you had everything you needed. Will for sure be back next trip to Pinecrest. read more

My advice is to make a reservation...we aleays call the week before we go up to ensure we get in... the sauted mushrooms are unbelievable. the steaks are alwayscooked to perfection and the staff is wonderful. The snickers dessert is just what is needed to put this place over the top. Also to top it off the local art that covers the wall is gorgeous and for sale read more