Diane's Saddleback Grill

This restaurant came highly recommended by our captain during the Lake Arrowhead boat ride. When we asked him where he'd choose to eat locally, he confidently told us this was the best spot in town--and he was absolutely right!We were lucky to snag a table for our party of 6.5 (our little toddler included). The menu was diverse, with something for everyone. We were celebrating my husband's 40th birthday, and the staff went above and beyond to make it memorable. They surprised him with a complimentary soup and treated us to the most incredible ice cream we've ever had-- the perfect touch!What an absolute gem of a restaurant. The thoughtful service and warm, welcoming atmosphere was exactly the warmth we needed on a cold Lake Arrowhead night. Thank you, Andrew!

If you want to go to a "fancy" dinner in Lake Arrowhead then Diane's Saddleback Grill is a a great choice. You should make a reservation unless you don't mind waiting. You can make a reservation on Open Table or call the restaurant directly. They have a wide variety of menu options of all proteins (chicken, fish, steak, lobster, calamari steak, pork, vegetarian). Most dishes come with a side of veggies, pasta or rice pilaf. All three sides were really good. Our favorite appetizer is the lobster escargot. It comes with bread you can dip in the yummy sauce. Favorite main courses are the lobster macaroni and cheese, both fish dishes (salmon and sole) and the chicken piccata. The specialty drinks are $14 each. The Paloma and Bullet Rye Manhattan were just ok but we wouldn't order a second. For dessert the Argentine Sea Salt and Caramel Gelato was delicious. It tasted like a creamy chocolate ice cream filled with chocolate caramel salted candy bar chunks. The ambiance is an upscale lodge slightly dimly lit or you can sit in the patio or high top area. Service was super friendly and helpful. Parking is free and easy on both sides of the building.

Diane's came recommended by the host of an AirBNB we were staying at near the village, it was our anniversary and decided to dine somewhere nice. Reservations were advised.Located walking distance from the village we encountered on one side of the building what appeared to be the main entrance, a very busy parking lot shared with the lodge there, and on the other side was an empty parking lot with stairs leading up to what appeared to be the rear entrance of the restaurant; we chose the front, more obvious entrance. We arrived at around 6pm and were greeted by some very nice people willing to accommodate our desire to eat. I went online previously that day to make a reservation on their website, letting them know it was our anniversary as well, but it didn't seem to matter, they acted as tho they weren't aware of the booking site. It wasn't a problem, however, there were plenty of seats at the time.My wife was in the mood to celebrate so ordered a mixed drink while I opted for a cold, semi-local IPA. The server was nice and knowledgable of the menu both for drinks and food. It was a Tuesday night and the special of the day was Fish n Chips. I went with the special. My wife ordered the petite filet.The filet was excellent, I was able to sneak a bite to confirm her cries of satisfaction that the steak was absolutely delicious. Paired with greens and garlic mash, it was a good choice. Mine, on the other hand, was not so good. The fish was three or four good chunks of Atlantic or Pacific cod, but cod nonetheless, identifiable by the flaky, white, meaty fish. Served over a bed a french fries and choice of side; I chose the coleslaw. Where it went wrong for me was with the fish and specifically in the batter; soggy crust, forgettable flavor, nothing to get excited about. The fish itself was slightly undercooked and barely warm in the middle. Unfortunately I regretted my choice, but not enough to spoil our outing. We really enjoyed our experience there and will likely return to try other menu items for sure.Lastly, the dessert and clearly the highlight of at least my meal. We opted for the bread pudding with some sort of vanilla brandy sauce. It was absolutely amazing!Lastly lastly, the restrooms were clean and fresh, nothing worse than a dirty restroom in a nice restaurant to turn you off.

Updated to show new happy hour prices. Still one of the best deals and atmospheres on the mountain.

The restaurant was fine since there aren't a lot of dining options at night in Lake Arrowhead. The appetizers were around $18 each, but were definitely freezer to fryer variety. I had the special, $28, for filet pot pie and a cup of French onion soup or salad. Soup had a decent flavor, lots of croutons and melted cheese. Unfortunately the pot pie was very salty and the vegetables were overcooked and a soggy mess. The filet was tender and a decent amount. The pie was basically a bowl of pot roast with puff pastry topper.My friend's rib eye was a decent size, but came out lukewarm. Service was friendly, but seemed shortstaffed. There is a small parking lot in front which is fine in the winter, but problematic in the summer. Diane's is inside the Saddleback Inn. The interior was old-school pub look and booths were comfortable if you can get one.

After a long day of walking around and touring Lake Arrowhead, my wife and I made it here. Dinner was amazing. I order the Calamari, Roasted Duck and wife ordered the Lamb. Gotta say the lamb was good combined with the mashed potatoes. Duck was soft and delicious. I also ordered the mule with tequila. Place has this old century vibe and the ceilings/walls with a detailed design. I see others reviews about price and service, if you don't have money in this day and age don't travel. Everything is going to be expensive. That's just what it is...Jason was our server and everyone was welcoming. Thanks again!

Dinner at Diane's could have been great. Unfortunately, for us, it (primarily the food) was mediocre at best. We made reservations for two with a dog and they were able to accommodate this. First thing I notcied when we arrived is that the ambiance was pretty cozy inside and it is part of a hotel. There was a traditional rustic vibe with a stone fireplace & woodwork throughout. Both the host and our server were very friendly and kind. My bf ordered the short rib ravioli and I ordered the lobster mac and cheese. After ordering, I noticed that there was no bread nor butter brought to the table, which for some reason I had anticipated and had read in another review. I let this go. Then our server brought our dishes. My bf was starving and actually ate all of his short rib ravioli. He said the sauce was delicious. However, it appeared to have been previously frozen and the raviolis were tough. He still continued to eat his dish despite the tough ravioli. Now on to my dish... The minute I cut into the lobster and smelled it, I knew something wasn't right. Not only was it lukewarm, but the sauce was sweet tasting, which was confusing to me because it is a cheese and seafood pasta! I bit into a hard plastic type of item and spit it into a napkin. Next bite, I tasted both some pasta and another piece of lobster. And, again, it was tough and sweet tasting. Something was really wrong! I let the server know. Luckily, they made all attempts to correct the wrong. I ended up having a blue cheese wedge and the server kindly brought over another short rib ravioli, on the house. And, all of this happened on my birthday weekend! I'm glad it happened here because of their kindness to fix the issue, but I wish they had a better chef and proper management and preparation of seafood. If not, why not take seafood off the menu, completely? Especially, if the chef and his cooks can't maintain the freshness and quality of it. (I have seen other reviews that state that their fish or lobster were tough and freezer burned). Will I ever go back? Maybe, but maybe not for food, just for drinks at the bar and with the nice waitstaff. Please consider: change your menu, get a new executive chef, or manage your seafood dishes better and your restaurant could be an amazing place to visit!

We treated our out of town friends to dinner here this past holiday season. The restaurant was decorated for the holidays and everything looked so festive. Everyone loved their appetizer and entree. The cocktails and dessert were excellent as well. The restaurant was PACKED and the waitstaff hustled to ensure every table was taken care of.

Came back for the fish and chips special, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. One of us add fish and chips combo which includes two fish and three shrimp with fries. The other dish is pasta carbonara. Huge portion so ate half of it and took the other half home. A welcoming place serving fine food each and every time. ** adding additional pictures that seem to have been deleted from prior post.

This place is insane. Reviews keep referring to this place as a fine dining spot, and based on the prices you'd definitely expect quality. It tasted like something you'd expect from a low key diner. I hardly ever write reviews, but this is by far my most disappointing restaurant experience in 2024 (service was fine, pretty average).