Sportsman's Hall

Great hidden gem on the historic Pony Express route. While the original building from the 1800s is no longer here, the current structure is still California Mountain classic, and itself is probably going on 60 years. History aside, food and service were both great, and a walk on the woods after lunch makes a great desert!THE PROS: All good. They even made a fresh pot of coffee just for me!THE CONS: None at all. A great addition to a day in the pines.

Great place to have breakfast brunch or lunch. Plenty of seats but due to its popularity there may be a little wait. On this day they were very accommodating to seat our group of 18. The restaurant is open and airy. Our waitress very helpful and regularly checked up on us.

We love coming here. Portion size is good. Food is very fresh. My kids really enjoyed their hot cocoa. My sons pancake was bigger then his head. My daughter had the half order of biscuits and gravy. It is her favorite! I ordered the lumberjack with French toast. They have a cinnamon roll french toast that is so good. I think he ordered the chicken fried steak. It is so crunchy crust with the tender inside. We have quite a bit from the menu. Lunch is also good. We really enjoy going for breakfast when it is snowing and watching the snow while we eat. They have the fireplace going on cold days to keep it warm. There are lots of old photos of the building and surrounding area. Very friendly staff. A must stop if you are looking for a breakfast spot.

I just tried their breakfast this morning and wasn't that great. Their biscuits were reheated in the microwave therefore were hard inside. The red country potatoes looked great but tasted like bacon. The service was great though.

Don't judge the book by the cover. Minus one star because inside and outside are dated and "mountainy," with wood paneling inside and a carpet nearly black from wear and age. But the menu is varied and the food good, generous, and reasonably priced. And it's just a quick turn from highway 50.We were traveling with our dog, so we ate on the patio. It was about 95 degrees out, but with umbrellas, a little breeze, and a plugged-in house fan, it was bearable. Staff was friendly and attentive, bringing water and even some dog biscuits for the pooch. My cheeseburger had an obviously hand-shaped, loose patty, perfectly cooked to the medium well typically recommended for ground beef, several available cheese choices (thank you for not offering only American!), served on a large brioche bun with two large slices of tomato, optional onions (raw or grilled), and a generous leaf of bibb lettuce. (I skipped the pickles.) The French fries were lightly crisp and tender inside - good enough that I ate all of the very large serving, calories and all. My husband had the Chicken Napoli, which turned out to be two large chicken breasts, nicely grilled with a hint of char and served on an enormous bed of spaghetti. The side salad had nice vegetable additions - cauliflower, broccoli, even a beet, and the balsamic vinaigrette was good. The dinner roll was soft with a crunchy top, served with spreadable whipped butter.The spot was a stop on the Pony Express route, so a little fun history too.One odd thing - garlic fries are $2 more than regular fries as side orders, but if you want to substitute garlic fries for the regular included with a meal, it's a $2.99 upcharge. Do they cost $.99 more to make with a meal? But that's a small quibble. If we lived in the area, we'd be regulars when we want a hearty, old-fashioned meal.

Literally a national treasure, a stop here is a must if you're in the area. Great service. Mary is an excellent server. Good, hearty food. Nice ambiance. And a good cup of coffee. Wish we lived closer so we could dine here on a regular basis. Cheers!

We dropped in for a recent weekday lunch. The food is basic. The staff is welcoming. The interior seems that it has not changed in the past 20 plus years. I am a frequent infrequent customer. Dropping in occasionally throughout the years only if I find myself in the area and feeling peckish. The menu is simple diner fare. Breakfast, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and hot entrees. Breakfast is served until 4pm which is a nice option. The food is very basic tasting. We ordered a club sandwich to share. It tasted fresh and looked great. It came with a hearty side of fries. A plus is that they do not have a plate sharing fee. We sat next to a window. There were a few flies buzzing about trying their darnedest to fly through the glass pane. They kept bouncing off the glass. Not quite the lunch entertainment we were anticipating.

Always greatest Extensive menu l, Good service, outdoor seating available. Best food on the mountain. Try their prime melt sandwhich.

This is a regular stop when we go to Apple Hill. We always choose small businesses whenever possible. This is a good old diner menu place. Food & service are always prompt. Food is comfort food and always dependable. We always enjoy our visits.

Came with a group of 10 and was able to be seated right away. Service was great from the moment we stepped in. I shared a prime rib plate which also came with salad, bowl of peas, and baked potato. $30 ish for a 10 ish oz prime rib dinner is unheard of in the bay so this was a really good deal. Didn't even get a chance to take pictures but my group enjoyed their food as well.