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962-5838 |
KNOTH PROPERTIES 12541 MT. JEFFERSON ST
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DINING IN GROVELAND
| Being a small community, we are fortunate to have a variety of restaurants with some very talented chefs. Here is a review of my favorite places to eat in town: The Grill at Pine Mountain Lake 12765 Mueller Drive, Groveland, CA 209-962-8638 http://www.pinemountainlake.com/?pg=countryclub
Pine Mountain Lake Restaurant and Lounge overlooks the Pine Mountain Lake Golf Course and offers majestic views of Yosemite’s peaks. The outside deck is perfect for outdoor dining & cocktails, and there is live music on most Saturdays. Another bonus here is free wireless internet access for members and customers. Restaurant Manager Jay Reis runs a great crew including Chef Carrie Taylor, Sous Chef Raul Melchor, and Dining Room Captain Sara Meehan. Banquet Director Bambi Johnson can coordinate all of your special occasions from 30 to 150 guests. All of these folks have contagious smiles and the atmosphere is very relaxing here. Chef Carrie’s menu is robust with a wide variety of pasta, chicken, beef, and seafood dishes; and the appetizer and salad choices are terrific. She also offers a wide array of popular "small plate" entrees, priced from $10-15. To boot, The Grill has a "Grab and Go" refrigerated food display, stocked with steaks, chicken, seafood (in cooked or ready to cook form), salads and side dishes, and wine - all ready to go. It's quick, easy, and affordable; and you can visually inspect and select your choices. I enjoy cooking and I have grabbed the New York Steaks and Ahi Tuna on display to take home and cook myself. The Grab and Go display is very tempting; avoid glancing at it if you are dieting! Entrees range from $10-$28, Open Friday and Saturday from 5-9 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5-8 pm. Breakfast served Saturday 8-11 am and Sunday 8 am-12:30 pm. Lunch served Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 3 pm.
The Groveland Hotel does an excellent job of serving “California Fresh Cuisine". The menu includes crisp salads, artisan cheese plates, gourmet pizzas, fresh fish, pasta, melt-in-your-mouth steaks and daily specials, all created with fresh seasonal ingredients. They strive to use organic and local ingredients whenever possible. The atmosphere of this restaurant is upscale and the presentation and quality of the meals is reflective of that. In the summer months, you have the option of dining in a beautiful garden courtyard. The historic elegance of this grand hotel is so alluring that one gentleman who passed away long ago, “Lyle the ghost”, is rumored to be still residing there. The Groveland Hotel has a full bar with a rather impressive wine menu. Entrees range from $14 to $36. Hours for dinner are typically Tuesday – Sunday, 5:30-8:30 pm, but also open on Monday in the warmer months. Breakfast is served daily from 7:30-10 am.
A favorite of many Groveland locals, “Café Charlotte” has a diverse menu which showcases the creative talents of Owner-Chef Victor Niebylski. The foundation of the menu is a large variety of delicious pastas and tasty chicken dishes. And then there is a vast array of tempting steak, lamb, and seafood dishes. They also offer selections for kids, vegetarians and vegans. This is one of those restaurants where you will likely have trouble deciding which dish to order as the menu is so alluring. Whatever you order, leave room for one of Chef Victor’s scrumptious desserts! The atmosphere is historic, cozy, and friendly, with a warm parlor area that is popular for pre-dinner drinks. The full service bar features local wines and California Microbrews. Victor’s wife (and Co-owner) Lynn is the perfect host, and you may also be greeted by the one who is really in charge, their very popular dog -“Goose”. Entrees are moderately priced and range from $10-$25. Dinner is served Thursday-Sunday, 5:30-8:30 pm (sometimes later in the summer).
Built in 1852 and reputed to be the oldest continuously operating saloon in California (since 1896), “The Door” is a fun place to take the family for some terrific charbroiled burgers. As you enter through the iron doors, you will step back in time into a real old west saloon. The saloon is monitored by the gaze of numerous hunting trophies including a buffalo, elk, moose, caribou, black bear, coyote, and a giant puffer fish. In addition to a few stray bullet holes, there are several historic pictures of the area. Additionally, historic mining, lumbering, and farming implements of the old west and thousands of dollar bills hang from the ceiling. You can eat in this fascinating saloon, but if eating near the bar is not your preference, you can dine in the much tamer looking grill dining area to the right. Despite its popularity as a burger place, The Door has a fine dining menu that should not be passed up. The dining menu is more limited than others in the area, but the dishes are unique and appealing. On Fridays and Saturdays at around 9 pm, The Door fires up with live music, and quickly converts into a highly charged night club. There is also an old fashioned Soda Shop adjacent to the Saloon which is open during the warmer months. Whether you choose to eat at the door or not, please be sure to visit it. Dining menu entrees range from $20-25 (Burgers are $10-$12). Dinner menu service starts at 5 pm.
A local favorite, this place is usually packed for good reason; the food is awesome! The ambiance is slightly lacking; but the service, pricing, and food more than make up for it. The menu in this family run restaurant is extensive with every Mexican favorite that you can think of and many more tasty dishes to boot. Very authentic Mexican food made with fresh ingredients, and if you want to get your meal fast (or quick take-out) this is the place. If the place is full, don't despair. They really get the food out quick, typically 10-15 minutes after ordering. Another option is to order your food to go, and it is typically ready in the same amount of time or less (just enough time to run across the street to the Iron Door Saloon for a quick drink!). Wine and Beer served. Entrees are reasonably priced from $9-$13. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 10:30 am-9 pm.
This place delivers (literally) with excellent pizza. The ingredients are fresh, the toppings are generous, and the pizza is delicious. They also serve some very good calzones, oven baked subs, breadsticks, Buffalo wings, chicken strips, onion rings, and fries; and there is a salad bar. The atmosphere inside is typical of a pizza place; no frills beyond TV. But if the weather is good the deck is very inviting for dining. In my book, Two Guys has the best “bang for your buck” pizzas in town, especially if you grab a coupon out of one of the local papers (PML News or Yosemite Highway Herald). In the winter, you can't beat their "All you can eat lunch special", 11 am-2 pm on weekdays; it includes pizza, salad, and soda for $6.95. Most combo medium sized (12") pizzas are $18, large sized (14”) pizzas are $22, Extra Large (18”) are $27. Calzones $10-$13, Oven baked subs are $7.25. Delivery is $4. Open 11 am-10 pm daily.
Cross Country Café serves breakfast, lunch, and deli to go. Like most Groveland restaurants, the ingredients are fresh and the dishes home-made. The breakfast menu has all of the basic dishes, and they do all of them so well. For lunch there is a good variety of popular salads and soups, and then a huge choice of ingredients for deli sandwiches. There are no creative surprises on the menu, just the basics here, but they do them right! Not to be missed is the pies made from scratch, they usually have at least a couple available. This is my favorite place in Groveland for a café breakfast. They have hash browns (yes, HASH BROWNS, not those "country potatoes") and I like my hash browns - ask for them extra crispy! You can also take advantage of the deli service to prepare your lunch for later in the day, the deli sandwiches are great! Very reasonably priced with all dishes under $10. Open daily with breakfast 7-11 am, lunch until 2 pm.
OK…not really dining, but they serve an English-style lunch, and if you are into tea, you have to check this out. Owner Dori Jones and husband Greg have created a quaint and charming tea room in a historic location, with no detail left behind. The décor, the ambiance, the table settings, the tea cups, and everything else are a tea-lover's dream. Dori’s offers a huge selection of teas, including extensive black, green, white, herbal, Oolong, Rooibos, decaffeinated, and iced teas along with numerous premium teas. They recently added their "Candy Bar" tea selection, including selections such as Peppermint Patti, Milkie Way, and Almond Joyful! A typical tea luncheon serving includes several finger sandwiches, some desserts like fruit and cake and, of course, a scone. They also serve full sandwiches and half sandwich and salad combinations. Everything is homemade and fresh, and there is a variety of unique and tasty sandwiches such as Roasted Garlic/Herb with Cucumber, Ham and Apricot Preserves, Pesto and Pine Nuts, and Sundried Tomato and Feta. Dori’s also offers snacks, drinks, and lunches to go and has a boutique filled with a unique selection of teas, tea accessories, and gifts. And on warm Friday and Saturday evenings, they serve wine, champagne, and hors d'oeuvres until 7 pm, a great start before dinner at a local restaurant! Whether you are served by Dori, Greg, or Dale, the service could not be any warmer or more attentive. Lunch servings range from $9-$16 per person. Open Wednesday – Monday, 10 am-4 pm; Lunch served 11 am-3 pm.
Updated 05/26/2010. Copyright © 2009 Tom Knoth. All rights reserved.
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