Tommy's is a former restaurant whose chef turned to takeout and the mountain town of Idyllwild is all the better for it. We've been coming to Idyllwild for 60+ years (100 as a family) and we've seen restaurants great and small come and go. Tommy's right now is one of the top three, ironically as it is takeout dinners with the occasional holiday brunch. This Sunday on Memorial Day weekend we ordered the Roast Lamb special ($24), a robust herbed port wine jus three slices, which came with a dense square of scalloped potatoes au gratin, buttered peas and glazed carrots--with excellent broccoli cheddar soup with croutons--and a white dark chocolate mousse that was the perfect light dessert (I couldn't believe I ate it all). We're having leftovers for lunch or dinner today. What Tommy's gives is way over price value but it's his European culinary technique that elevates the food, even when doing crispy fried chicken with biscuits and gravy. The menu is set, one dish a day, though some occasionally come with vegetarian options. As a bonus, son James bakes excellent French bread--we bought a sun-dried tomato one which was terrific dipped in olive oil. Best of all, for us, Tommy's allows us to not fill the best hours of the evening with cooking and prep. We can sit out on our deck and enjoy the mountains. I'm a food writer among other things (finalist, Best Restaurant Feature, 2015, City & Regional Magazine Association) and author of The French House. read more

We decided to camp at Lake Hemet for Thanksgiving this year. Instead of trying to cook for the holiday meal we decided to eat out or find something else. Ran across Tommy's Kitchen online and gave it a try. Tommy was very friendly online and we ordered for 4 a little late but he accommodated. Did not know what to expect as we had never ordered to reheat later. Luckily my camp grill can double as a simple oven. We were AMAZED at the food quality and taste. Days later I still find myself thinking of the food. Every item of this feast was beyond what we expected. The dessert was the finale. Anyone staying up there in a BnB or camping and have access to an oven should seriously consider ordering from them. Check out their website it only adds to the reasons to support them. Photos show the quality after heating. Missing is the best apple streudel (apfelstrufel with calvados vanilla sauce) I've ever eaten. Was too busy enjoying it to take a pic. Also missing is the awesome roasted cauliflower and butternut squash soup. read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Artichoke spinach dip with pita bread. - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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The staff is SO sweet and I love that they have a good amount of outdoor seating. The outdoor seating also has heaters nearby and every chair has a nice furry cover too so you're nice and cozy. They had live music playing too when I went on a Sunday morning. The breakfast food was okay- they had scrambled eggs, bacon, scalloped potatoes, hash browns, mini pancakes, French toast, and more. Bacon was the best part. The French toast seemed like it'd been in there for a bit because it was a bit tough to cut through. The thing is, I was so excited to try all the sweets because they looked absolutely gorgeous!!! Unfortunately, everything didn't taste as good as it looks. The flavors were too strong in some of them (like the lemon loaf - wayyy too tart!) and some were just very dry (the cinnamon roll and the chocolate loaf for example.) The only thing I liked from the dessert table was the crunchy cookie half dipped in chocolate. Overall I'd come back for the breakfast but, even as a dessert lover, I'd have to sadly skip over the dessert table. read more

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I had a great experience here with my bf. Came without reservations for breakfast on a Saturday and we were promptly seated outside. The staff was so sweet, they took our plates promptly and checked on us throughout our meal. The live music was really nice, the only thing I didn't like was that our table was really slanted so I was worried my coffee would tip over. We had the breakfast buffet, it was $25 per person and coffee was included. Next time I definitely want to try their mimosas. The buffet had a salad bar and typical breakfast fare like scrambled eggs, french toast, hash browns and breakfast sausages. What really stood out to me were the pasteries. The strawberry cream pastry, and this little chocolate dessert they had were sooo delicious. Would definitely come back if I was in the area. read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

The only reason I tried this restaurant is because some firefighters told me they had the best hamburger on the hill. The ambience is nice the bathroom clean ( just duck going up the stairs ) and the service nice. It was 3-4 years ago that I ate here Now 2023 he is preparing delicious affordable meals that we can pick up They are in ready to eat or warm up at home While in Idyllwild I will definitely try his food read more

Great ambience, great service, great chairs, and very good food! My partner was dying to try this place for lunch so we decided to give Tommy's Kitchen a go. Plenty of ample parking, and we managed to pull up between two parked cop motorcycles. Apparently this is the place to go for a bite as we saw locals, firemen and motorcycle cops enjoying some lunch. If you have a bench warrant out of your arrest, maybe you should go elsewhere. Haha Service: 5 stars. courteous and knowledgeable staff from the hostess to our waitress. Our waitress was attentive and efficient and accommodated our needs as we had our dog Elizabeth with us. Firefighter Special: 5 stars We arrived at 1230 and were told that they were out of burgers. (The firemen and police officers ordered the last of the burgers). This being said, I decided to order the firefighter special: Meatball sub - pork, beef and mild sausage, marinara, mozarella cheese served on a garlic bread roll. I opted for fries and salad. The meatball sub was more filling than I thought, and it was a 5 star sub. I ended up taking half of it home for lunch tomorrow. The fries were good, well seasoned but I think they could have been a tad crispier, but I won't nitpick. The side salad was very good as well. Normally Tommy's has a 'get your own' salad bar, but due to COVID precautions, you pick out the ingredients and the waitress assembles the salad in front of you. $5.00 mimosa: stick with the OJ, or no juice. I choose blackberry thinking it was fresh blackberry juice, or blackberries but it was syrup and a bit sweet for my taste. The waitress did offer a solution/replacement but I didnt' want to fuss. I would come back here anytime. read more

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Came here for brunch on a little trip to the mountains. It was such a cute and lovely place. When we got there, the staff greeted us and told us ab how the buffet works. They were super nice and were always checking up on us. They had a normal classic selection of American breakfast foods, like pancakes, french toast, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a few more. What REALLY got me were their desserts. The strawberry cream puff and this other chocolate dessert were SOOOO good. I ate the desserts more than the actual breakfast foods themselves. There was a nice variety and all the desserts were so unique and aesthetic. 10/10 would come again if I go on a trip again. read more

This is the best deal in town. Food is delicious and plentiful and they keep bringing our food. Eating outside is absolutely delightful and the service is great. We got reservations at the last hour they were open so options ran low on some items but there was still plenty to chose from. The music on the patio was delightful. I just wish they had more trees or cover when it got super sunny so bring a hat just in case. Great buy for this small little town. read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Brunch selection for me with jalapeno cheese bread. - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Long overdue for an updated review, especially because I own the crown for the most checked in person at Tommies kitchen on Yelp. This place is incredible! After the pandemic they added live music during the weekend and it's adds such a nice touch. The patio of this restaurant is awesome, very cozy and cabin like. Their brunch is buffet style and has a salad bar, breakfast section with eggs, hash browns, etc. The pastries section is especially nice, the cannolis are one of a kind! We have been going to this place a lot since it's the best place for brunch in Idyllwild. Not only is it super affordable, the owner and waitstaff are very friendly and personable. read more

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I would highly recommend this food for anyone! I was up in Idyllwild visiting my brother and we ordered chicken curry and gespacho soup and coconut ice cream. This meal was a good as I have had in a long time. Truly impressive!!! A must! read more

After a morning at the beautiful community playground we enjoyed an awesome brunch in Idyllwild at Tommy's Kitchen in Fern Valley. Tommy's had an incredible layout of eggs, scalloped potatos, smoked lox, jalapeño cheddar biscuits, jambalaya, French toast, crisp hickory maple bacon, sausage, fruit & salad bar, and more plus a table of 20+ desserts - all of the ones we tried were delicious and some of them were out of this world made better by the great coffee & tea compliment. Staff that made us feel like family & invited us to take our time and stay a while. Live music by Terry Jo's Laurel Canyon inspired playing set the mood for a perfect afternoon in the trees. The vibe doesn't get better. What a joyful afternoon. read more

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Well worth the drive. Visiting family in the area and they wanted to go for a day trip to Idyllwild. The restaurant they had in mind was dinner service only on the day we were there so I hopped on Yelp to find something in the area and we landed at Tommy's Kitchen. We sat in a lovely pity dining area and enjoyed both wonderful food and excellent service. It might be a bit of a challenge if you have mobility issues, but it well worth the try. read more

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We were in Idyllwild for the week and had heard that Tommy's was offering pick-up meals while the restaurant is closed while they are dealing with his kid's cancer. If you check out there Facebook page they post their weekly menu. Email or text your request, wait for a confirmation and then pick up your piping hot food at the restaurant location between 5 - 6 pm. We got the chicken pot pie that came with salad and dessert. As somewhat of a chicken pot pie connoisseur I'd ranked Tommy's up there with my own homemade version. I also got a hot tip while there about his Swiss Mac and cheese being top notch. Great food and amazing deal! I recommend and we will definitely be back next time we are in Idyllwild. read more

*** 4.5 stars *** My favorite restaurant in Idyllwild! Be mindful of the hours - currently (as of July 2021) they are only open from 11-2 on weekdays due to COVID and a labor shortage. I'm so glad that we managed to fit this into our visit since it was definitely the best food that we had during our five days there. They were having a rotisserie chicken special which was delicious, and I eat a lot of rotisserie chicken from a lot of different (and some very fancy) places). There's is up there. I had the vegetarian rosti and it was as good as everyone described. It had a generous portion of vegetables on top of a perfect potato hash. I wish we'd had an opportunity to return, but will definitely be back on future visits to Idyllwild! read more

I love the convenience of picking up an amazing 3 course meal and at a great price! We had the watermelon gazpacho, chicken curry w/rice and strawberry puff pastry for desert. All were so delicious and well prepared! I called Tommy the day before and he had our meals ready as promised the next evening. The gazpacho was chilled and the chicken hot. We will be back! read more

Amazing! From scratch, delicious, and creative courses. This was our first time ordering from Tommy's Kitchen and now we know why so many have given it five stars. We'll absolutely be back. Menu is posted on FB every week - https://www.facebook.com/tommyskitchens?mibextid=LQQJ4d read more

Very nice place to have breakfast or lunch. Really relaxing atmosphere Nice touch with subtle entertainment while having a meal with friends read more

Truly a fantastic place. Staff were all very friendly, helpful without being overbearing and answered questions about the menu. They seemed genuinely pleased at how much we liked it. The cream of barley soup was outstanding! Add a bit of live acoustic guitar music and a dog-friendly deck with sheepskin chair covers to take the chill off, and you've got a recipe for a perfect brunch spot! read more

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We stopped in for their Sunday brunch buffet! The staff is very friendly and attentive, the food spread was out of this world! Highly recommended, we will for sure be back on our next trip. read more

Delicious brunch buffet! A must visit when in Idyllwild. Desserts are extra delicious Live music was great and wait staff was super friendly! Will definitely be back read more

I've never written a review but after eating there WOW from the burger to fries to the bread pudding amazing. I heavily recommend this spot. You shouldn't even decided any other place The burger was seasoned perfectly paired with the perfectly cooked patty The fries are another level perfectly seasoned and crispy Customer service was also outstanding Bread pudding was also great read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Bread pudding - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Wife and I saw the size of the burger and split it. It was very good with cheese mushrooms and bacon. Also on side Pickles tomatoes and lettuce. Comes with waffle fries or salad. We did fries and served hot and tasty. Great efficient service. We chose to eat outside as it was mid 70s. read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Entrance - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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Tommy is a treasure. His homemade food is delicious! He is one of the sweetest gentlemen.

Long overdue review. I have to rave about Tommy's. Probably the best breakfast/brunch experience I have had in Idyllwild or anywhere- really. The staff is amazing. Everyone is so helpful, kind, and personable. The outdoor seating is great, cozy, and comfortable. Plus- there is a ton of seating. There was live music, heaters for the cooler months, and food (plus mimosas) were at a great and reasonable price per person. Desserts are a plus if you have a sweet tooth as there is a huge selection. Great experience! read more

I can not help to write about my experience. The deck is almost psychedelic colors with the prime bright color tents. The one thing I truly enjoy was beets with a curry seasoning. The flavors all came together with perfection and I think it had a dash of olive oil. If you are the chef and you made it five years ago. Yeah, that light beet salad with curry is perfection. Soon to return! IF you are swinging by I highly suggest to give them a visit. Great red wine selection. The actual restaurant/venue is a quaint charming house. The entire experience is exquisite. Enjoy! read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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The highlight of the trip to Idyllwild was brunch at Tommy's Kitchen. I had read online that the owner is Swiss and wanted to check it out. Not only was the patio super cute and the brunch $25 per person, the food was also absolutely excellent. All the baked goods were amazing: Apfelstrudel! Real Brötchen! The French toast and some flaky pastry with dark chocolate were also outstanding. Finally, they also had Bircher Müsli whichever I love and haven't had in such a long time - kind of a Swiss national dish , and Rösti. I wish I could transport this Idyllwild gem to San Diego. read more

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Wow! What a great experience we had here :). Visiting Idyllwild for a first time, we were a little lost and unsure where to eat with our two dogs. We googled that place and walked from the center of the city leaving the car there (it's about 10 min. walk). It was suuuuper hot so we had to carry our dogs. Upon arrival lady greeted us on the front and mentioned that they have a buffet going on and no menu otherwise. We agreed and it was such a great decision! Their patio is beautifully taken care of, warm, cozy, friendly vibe is coming from it. We were immediately sat down and our dogs jumped on one of their chairs with covered with cozy fur. They loved if! Went to sleep a few times haha. They are ultra dog friendly. Anyway, we went in to get our food and everything looked inviting. Fresh, smelling nicely. Good choices for the price, I think it was $25 per person. Their desserts steal the show for sure! So many options and soooo good!!! The only thing I didn't like was a mimosa. I am Eastern European and I ate fresh from the living plant black currant, the syrup they said they have in this flavor is nothing like the real thing. Tastes more like grapes. Anyway, really I truly recommend that place and we will be back for sure! :) read more

Tommy's Kitchen - My buffet plate - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

There's a reason this place has five stars. I came on Sunday about 10am. Things were pretty bustling and (admittedly) I didn't know where to stand or wait. The lady in charge couldn't have been kinder, explained her hostess called out and all was well. I elected to sit inside, a quaint little side porch with artwork and tchotchkes for sale. The brunch buffet was well-stocked, had a good selection, and was overflowing with sweets and pastries. If I'm ever up here with friends, this will be our first stop (well, maybe second... right after that fabulous independent bookseller in town). read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Sign from the Entrance Gauntlet - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Tommy's kitchen has the best most authentic food in town. Tommy brings an old world charm and he hand makes everything his service and the ambience in this place is great but most importantly you'll be eating it at home I would love to see someone come in one day with Tommy reopen the restaurant and serve everybody the way they used to and that would bring him a ton of joy, but until then bring the best food in town home. He is well worth the money and the time he's a class act and this restaurant is true the best food I've had in a long time I'll be coming back and I I've already recommended multiple friends in the area, I know he'll be getting reviews from them too read more

Thank you! That chicken pot pie dinner last night was delicious and perfectly cooked so the veggies still had a pleasing al dente bite. Comforting tomato bisque soup starter as well. Can't wait for our next meal. read more

For the foreseeable future Tommy's is doing take out meals only Wednesday through Sunday. Available menus are online. The food is truly delicious and hot when you pick it up. These are quality meals, usually including soup or salad, the main and a dessert. I have been very pleased with the portions and taste. It's really a great deal. Try it! read more

Love this place. We went early for brunch on Saturday and didn't have to make reservations. I would make reservation for brunch tho, just in case. They had salad bar, breakfast section and dessert section. The outside patio was cute and cozy. On saturday and sunday, they also have live music with the brunch which was nice. We really enjoyed it. read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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I cannot say enough about this restaurant. The food was fresh and delicious. The ambience was about as good as you can get for a lunch in the woods. The staff couldn't have been more attentive. Maddy was so attentive and couldn't have been sweeter. They all were great, just a wonderful spot to grab a bite. Thank you Tommy's for a wonderful dining experience. read more

I'm glad they are here. Delicious healthy food! Very nice people and the only salad bar in Idyllwild! Awesome spot! Great location and very comfy. read more

We make an annual trip to Idyllwild every year and every year we leave disappointed by the restaurants we try (with the exception of Idyology). This year we decided to mix it up and try Tommy's Kitchen, and it didn't disappoint. We ordered the Florentine omelet with a side of French Toast and the Birshmuesli (my apologies for misspelling) and coffee. Everything was delicious, from the samples of coffee cake they brought out with our coffee to the fresh fruit served with the cinnamon-sugar crusted french toast. The rosti is an absolute must-try. The ladies here were all so kind and attentive. We can't wait to return and try an elderflower mimosa! read more

Tommy's Kitchen - Florentine omelet with rosti and french toast. - Modern European Near Me - Idyllwild, California

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One of my favorites! Dog-friendly outdoor dining, good food, friendly service and reasonable prices.

Wow, this was so fun with my family! Had brunch starting with mimosas and lots of good food. Patio dining with a singer guitarist made the meal extra special. read more

We came to Tommy's for lunch after hiking. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming to us and our puppy. They gave our dog some treats and water right away. Our food was fresh and delectable. This is one of the best places in Idyllwild. read more

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Great restaurant for lunch. Delicious food and wonderful owners and staff. Highly recommend read more

This place has a quirky fun vibe. The outdoor seating area was very inviting on a warm day. Server was friendly. Live folksy music added to the atmosphere. And the food is not bad too. read more