The Independent

The Independent food was fabulous. I had the Calamari, Polenta, Seared Ahi, and Bread Pudding. Best overall dinner that I have had in a while.Our server, Trevor, was attentive and cordial - as well as his two other team members.The ambience was nice and sound level was moderate. Parking was readily available to the left of the restaurant. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Just ate there last night and truly the most disgusting vegan burger I've ever had in my life. This is a place I usually really like but three of us went there last night. The burger was good. The sushi was disgusting and so was the vegan burger take those off the menu they're gross.!! I'm going to say the service is always wonderful here so it's not your fault ;)

I don't usually leave reviews unless the restaurant is absolute garbage, or it's so damn good that I feel the need to advertise it. This would be the latter situation.This place has the best prime rib I've ever eaten, and I've been eating top quality prime rib my entire life. I was also impressed by the prime grade ribeye (prime grade is not very common in restaurants) as well as the sides, the drinks, the desert, the service, and the ambiance. All around it was a fantastic experience, would highly recommend!

When my wife and I are on the road the restaurants we choose are a key part of our stays. Placerville is one of the jump off points for the infamous Rubicon Trail and we picked in large part due to the great restaurants available to us. Our dinner before embarking on our adventure was at The Independent and we loved every minute of it. No cocktails or wine due to the early start the next day so our focus was purely on the food. We started with a shared salad, called the Summer Caprese. "Local Ray Yeung Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata Pesto, Garden Basil, Local Field Greens, Herb Vinaigrette, Maldon Sea Salt" and it was a great way to begin our meal.The tomatoes tasted like they must have been picked that day and delivered to the restaurant, as they were so fresh, juicy and sweet. The rest of salad was just as delicious and we were both sad to eat that last bite. However when the entrees arrived we returned to a state of bliss as we each devoured our choices. We both went with fish that night with my wife choosing pacific salmon which was grilled and served with a balsamic glaze and a side of herb confit marble potatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables. So many restaurants overcook salmon, but this was done just right, warmed through but still somewhat translucent in the center with an incredible crust which delivered a crunch with every bite. The herbed potatoes were also very flavorful as were the vegetables. The balsamic glaze included capers cooked with lemons which just added a pop to every bite. I went with one of nights specials, ahi tuna served over a bed of orzo with broccolini and grilled polenta cheese . The tuna was raw in the middle with slightly seared edges and the the accompanying sides were equally as good. We sat outside which I would highly recommend. Very sweet patio setting with a fire in the fireplace and two two wall fountains.My only complaint was regarding the service. Our waiter, Jake was fantastic, really fun to talk to and he made you feel like you were the only customer in the place. But the bussing was annoying. We had barely put our forks on our plates after the last bite of salad and they were being whisked away. The same was true with our dinner plates and it made us feel a bit like we were being rushed out the door.Notwithstanding that fact we will be back the next time we are in this beautiful little town.

This is a great place to have lunch or dinner in the Apple Hill area.The food, drinks and service was great! They have indoor and outdoor seating, we sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather.

Wednesday, August 28, 2024After spending the morning at Apple Hill, we decided to stop in Placerville for a late lunch. We didn't really have a restaurant in mind, so we drove along Main Street. We spotted The Independent restaurant, and a memory of a good meal there in the past prompted us to stop. The small parking lot was full, but we were able to snag a parking spot directing in front of the restaurant.We arrived around 2:00, so most of the lunch crowd was gone. We were seated right away. Water was immediately delivered to our table, and then our server appeared to ask us if we wanted anything else to drink. We had just done a bit of wine tasting, so we skipped the cocktails this time, although the drink menu was intriguing. Next time, maybe...My husband and I ordered the cup of soup, which was a delicious potato and corn chowder. I also ordered the Pacific Salmon w/Balsamic Glaze, Herb Confit Marble Potatoes and Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables, which I split with my husband. I told him I was very hungry and wasn't sure I wanted to share, but when the plate came, there was plenty of food for the both of us. (We tend to eat lighter meals now.) The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the potatoes and sautéed broccoli were nice sides.Service was excellent, the ambiance is cozy and comfortable. It was a nice stop after a morning apples and wine.

The Independent Restaurant, Placerville, CA, February 10, 2024After a full afternoon of celebrating an early "Valentines Day" wine tasting event at Nello Olivo Winery in Camino, we stopped in around 5 pm for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but we were lucky enough to get the last indoor table. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a medium-sized bar. The outdoor seating is covered and they have patio heaters and an outdoor fireplace, but it was starting to cool off outside, so sitting indoors was my preferred choice. Outside probably would have worked too.The inside part of the restaurant is warm and cozy for the most part. They have tables for 2, 4, and 6 people. The bar area was pretty packed, but the acoustics of the place are pretty good and it wasn't too noisy. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and answered all our questions. We ordered a glass of Trefethen Chardonnay, which we split, and we split the salmon with roasted Brussel sprouts and butternut squash. The meal came with a vinaigrette salad that included butternut squash and bacon crumbles. It was flavorful. The salmon was nicely cooked and came in a tasty creamy lemon caper butter sauce.There was a split charge, which I was happy to pay because everything came out on separate plates and the portions were perfect. We got the chocolate pot de crème for desert with a couple glasses of port. Perfect way to cap off the meal!

Food is excellent. If weather is nice sitting outside is good. It gets a bit loud inside. The bar and servers are great.

One of my favorites is the Nicoise salad. It is always very fresh with interesting and delicious ingredients! Service is always top notch as well.The patio is great with heaters and fireplace.

Went here for b-day dinner Feb 1. Very disappointed to say the least. Wife and I shared the 14oz $59 ribeye steak. It was way too fatty, tough and hard to chew (should have sent it back). On the plus side, wedge salad and veggies were good. We each had a cocktail and started with calamari. The bill was a whopping $140 plus tip. Won't be going back here again.