balzaccom
Trail Wise!
Waiting for spring...
Posts: 4,549 
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Post by balzaccom on Jul 23, 2015 8:41:11 GMT -8
We're always looking for somewhere to eat that will be a bit different, and a bit better ,than the usual small town trailhead fare. Yeah, we've found good burgers in a few places, and every town has a pizza place, a Mexican place, and at least one BBQ joint...etc. But our last visit to Bishop gave us another reason to return. Not only was the hiking great, but we found a really nice restaurant there.
While the location isn't ideal (it's in a small local shopping center on the road that leads to the North Lake/Sabrina/South Lake trailhead) Sage Restaurant a step above the usual small town café. The menu is interesting, with enough dishes that we were tempted to eat there two days in a row. The wine list is reasonable, and has some good choices on it. And the whole feel of the place is more sophisticated and food focused than anything we'd expected--at least, anywhere on 395..
True, if it were in Napa, where we live, we probably wouldn't give it a second thought. But it's not in Napa. It's in Bishop. And if you want a culinary experience in Bishop, it may not only be a good choice---it may be your only option. We were delighted with it. Check it out the next time your are in Bishop: 621 W. Line St. #101 Town & Country Plaza.
On the other hand, we also stopped for lunch at the Cardinal Café in Aspendell. The menu had three choices--a hamburger, a hot dog, and a grilled cheese sandwich. We asked if they had a salad, and the very perky and cute waitress suggested that we could order lettuce, tomato and an onion on the cheese sandwich---and that would be kind of like a salad.
Well, not really. Oh dear.
Luckily, the guy running the store in the other half of the building pointed out that he had a green salad in his cold cases...and we bought one of those. It was green, a little faded, and came with a package of dressing in the box. But we won't go out of our way to eat there again...
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speacock
Trail Wise!
I'm here for the food...
Posts: 378
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Post by speacock on Jul 23, 2015 11:17:13 GMT -8
A suggestion a bit farther north out of Mammoth on Twin Lakes road is Tamarack Lodge at Lake Mary. I believe they only do one seating, reserved. It is the unknown best place in the area. A tad on the pricy side.
Jack's in Bishop for breakfast. We're usually in a rush to get in or out of town.
Big Pine up to Glacier Lodge. The lodge (before it burned down) had wonderful food reasonably priced. Haven't been back.
Hamburgers at Whitney Portal are beyond delicious after a 22 mile day hike.
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zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,893
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Post by zeke on Jul 23, 2015 15:34:07 GMT -8
I eat lunch at Schat's Bakkery. Yeah, the same place SBM was running down for the 2 k's. I like their sandwiches, and they could serve 2 smaller portion diners.
I found the sandwich I liked so much. It is called the "Mule Kick" I had it on rye, or something like it. The menu is posted over the sandwich makers, so it takes a little bit to decide. First time, I had a pastrami, then the second time I had this Mule Kick. Next time I am in there, i will be bringing something home, maybe a cinnamon pull apart.
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greno
Trail Wise!
Posts: 45
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Post by greno on Jul 28, 2015 9:08:31 GMT -8
We hit a gas station in Benton on Tuesday night. It was very acceptable food.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,708 
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 1, 2015 21:17:31 GMT -8
We really enjoyed the Bishop Burger Barn. About as far from chain-store fast food burgers as you can get and still put it between two buns. With maximum hippy-like funkiness.
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speacock
Trail Wise!
I'm here for the food...
Posts: 378
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Post by speacock on Aug 8, 2015 11:13:06 GMT -8
Some few years ago, returning from N to South Lakes(Parkers Resort gave me a ride back to N Lake), I stopped in for Chinese food just off 395 on the west and what must have been barely south of the lakes road. It turned out to be an entire family supported restaurant. It was at closing time for them, and they asked if I would like to join them. I sat with the family at one of their large round tables - younger at another table. The older generation new little English. The younger generation knew little Chinese. In between worked just fine. They asked where I had been - possibly I was as aromatic as the food. They had no idea what was above either South or North (nor Sabrina) Lakes nor that it was so accessible. After dinner I brought my pack in, unpacked it on the floor showing what I'd carried for a week and laid out a map on one of the tables. The elders finished up what was left of my cognac and I was plied with tea pot after tea pot. I hope they got up to both passes as day trips that summer. They were amazed and delighted at the idea of a long day walk. The restaurant burned down a year or so later. Too bad, THEY/I were eating some very good Chinese food that evening. I suspect the loss of that restaurant left an opening for the others that are now there. There were 13 of us for dinner. The old man made a statement that the baby did not yet count - everybody was relieved - safe 12. I think he was more worried that I thought 13 unlucky.
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speacock
Trail Wise!
I'm here for the food...
Posts: 378
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Post by speacock on Aug 8, 2015 11:35:33 GMT -8
Independence is kicking up some interesting places with interesting proprietors - along the west side of the road. There used to be a good place and the 'other' place across the street from the Hotel. A crowd of us stayed at the hotel over most of a week and it had excellent - simple food. You had to tell them you would be there that evening or they probably didn't make enough food for you. The lure to Independence, then, was a hot shower behind the laundry.
The Ranchhouse south of Olancha (across from the cheapest gasoline north of LA - now kaput) had excellent home made chilli, beans, cornbread, blue cheese hamburger and iced tea (no lemon unless asked for) as well as a wonderful early breakfast of a long, split mild poblano pepper and mushroom omelet and fresh there made bread. Half the prices of Whitney Restaurant. Was run by two gals. Whoever took over since didn't keep them around long enough to copy their recipes or cooking know-how.
Locally grown, pickled and bottled hot (and milder Sierratino - unique in the world) peppers are a treat. Not so much the 'world famous' jerky outlets that pepper US 395, though. Just the juice from the peppers makes a grand chopped* green salad dressing.
* That means EVERYTHING gets put in on top of normal Cob Salad ingredients. A wonderful cure for anything, ANYTHING green after a long back pack.
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tarol
Trail Wise!
Redding, CA
Posts: 582
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Post by tarol on Aug 9, 2015 10:42:37 GMT -8
Eastern Sierra chileno peppers are the best! Love Schat's chileno cheese bread and their turkey sandwiches. Rarely go there, though, because it's so crowded.
Jack's is our favorite restaurant in Bishop - not fancy but good food and nice people.
Mt. Whitney Restaurant if we're closer to Lone Pine
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Aug 12, 2015 11:16:30 GMT -8
Ages ago there was a reliable A&W just south of town, otherwise nothing springs to mind near Bishop. I'd second Tamarack Lodge for fine dining near Mammoth though I haven't been there for ages. Has some nice nordic skiing as well: www.tamaracklodge.comI've carefully walked DOWN to the start of those covered steps some years when the snow got going and piled high... Ansel's daughter's restaurant outside Lee Vining has re-opened and there's always Tioga Pass Resort for a reliable (IMHO) meal (breakfast and dinner anyway). Also in Lee Vining Nicely's does a good country fried steak dinner... and Mono Cone a good Ortega Burger and Fries. The Stove in Mammoth has previously done terrific omelets. |
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