Red Kettle

I recently had the pleasure of eating at the Red Kettle Restaurant, and I must say it was an exceptional experience. From the moment we walked in, the friendly staff made us feel right at home with their warm greetings and attentive service. The atmosphere was inviting and cozy, perfect for a relaxed meal. The food was nothing short of excellent. Each dish was expertly prepared, showcasing fresh ingredients and delightful flavors that left us thoroughly impressed. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty breakfast or a satisfying lunch, the menu offers a variety of options to suit every palate. Moreover, the prices were very reasonable, providing great value for the quality of food and service offered. It’s rare to find such a perfect combination of delicious cuisine, welcoming staff, and affordability all in one place. Overall, the Red Kettle Restaurant is a gem worth visiting. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience.

This is as good of a breakfast as you'll get! Tourist towns can be tough but this place is great. The staff is beyond friendly. They're enough to get me to return. The Griddled Potato Scramble is delicious and HUGE. The omelet was great as well, but I can't speak to it because my partner devoured it before I could try it. That speaks for itself, I think. Get the biscuit. It's fluffy and perfect. Just do it. Also, go early. Like, as soon as they open. Otherwise, you're going to be waiting a while.

We had a great breakfast here on Sunday. We tried the polish sausage and eggs, which was a cool option instead of breakfast sausage, and they were able to sub hashbrowns for the eggs in the waffle combo with a sausage patty. The hashbrowns were great, the waffle was good, and the sausage patty was very flavorful. Kathy, our server, was super friendly!

My friends and I—a group of 10 motorcycle riders—were on a trip through the area and decided to stop at the Red Kettle for a bite to eat. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with an incredible sense of warmth and genuine hospitality. The restaurant itself has this wonderful, cozy home-style feel with just the right amount of rustic, mountain charm that made us all feel right at home. The staff was absolutely fantastic, and the service was nothing short of excellent. They were friendly, attentive, and had a great sense of humor that kept our whole group laughing. It's not always easy to serve a large group like ours, but they handled it with grace and treated us like we were part of their own family. I ordered one of their omelets, and it was truly outstanding. Cooked to perfection with fresh ingredients, it was exactly what I needed after a long ride. Every single person in our group was thoroughly impressed with their food. The atmosphere, the service, the food—everything was a solid five stars. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you're a local or just passing through, I can't recommend the Red Kettle enough. Stop in and see for yourself why this place is a hidden gem.

We stopped by for breakfast at the recommendation of several locals. We weren't disappointed! Seated on the patio in the sunshine with our two children and our two dogs, we received a warm and friendly welcome from every server that passed us. We ordered the 2 Cakes Combo, the kid's pancake, a strawberry shake, and the chili fries. The food was terrific and reasonably priced. Grace, our server, was super friendly and attentive. We're definitely coming back here next time we're in town! Also give their muffins a try. Their chocolate one is SO good! I had to take half of it home and the next day it was still perfectly delicious!

Very cute little diner with classic mountain town vibes. They serve freshly squeezed orange juice, which was a nice touch and really tasty. I ordered the breakfast burrito—while it was delicious, the portion was surprisingly small and didn’t come with any sides. It felt underwhelming, especially considering the price. Everyone else’s plates looked much more generous—most people couldn’t even finish their meals. The staff was fast-paced but still attentive and kind. Overall, it’s a charming spot, but I’d probably order something else next time.

Amazing little spot in a quaint pretty little town. The menu selection was vast and very tasty. The locals and regulars were very friendly and also recommended our meal. Real family-oriented place great food great atmosphere great customer service. Danielle and the rest of the staff were amazing. Definitely making another visit very soon.

Is pet friendly, we were seated about a 5 minute wait. We chose the outside seating. It was clean and spacious patio. Some on the seats had a small blanket to keep you warm. Food was nice and hot when served. The staff kept on checking on the customers. It was really nice. I recommend this place for a delicious meal.

The Red Kettle is our favorite eatery in Idyllwild by far, what makes our visit even more special is the snow. You get a great view of the town square from the restart, the staff is amazing they provide some amazing service which makes you feel right at home. Their menu is pretty good they have a large selection to choose from. Make sure you leave some room for some fresh pie, they have different kinds of pies daily. I would recommend showing up early for breakfast or lunch because they get very busy.

Cute little cafe in mountain town. Typical American food. We sat outside where I watched the snow melt away into icicles on roofs drip dropping. My dog joined us outside and the staff was friendly. I ordered an egg salad sandwich and it was yummy. They get really busy there, so if you are on LA time and in a rush...remember its the mountains. I had to slow it down. There are only two bathrooms...somehow I ended up waiting like 10 min for one to open... The restaurant itself was like a cute little house.

Was in town and decided to ask about the best place to eat. Well, the organic shop owner is a retired master chef and she referred us to either Gastronome (longest standing restaurant in Idyllwild since 1973) or Red Kettle across the street. We saw how crowded Red Kettle was and so we crossed the street because that is always a good sign. There were some folks from Palm Desert there and they raved about how delicious the breakfast was. They also said that we could not go wrong with anything that we chose. After about a 10 minute wait, we were brought in and seated. The seating was OK, but we were crammed in the middle of the dining room into a very small table with three chairs. Nevertheless, a young server came to take our drink order. We ordered two Arnold Palmer's, and one iced tea no sweetener. Shortly after our drinks came to the table our server, Kathy, greeted us. She was very cheerful and looked very happy, which gave us a really good feeling. Two in our party ordered the soup and sandwich special which came with a Rueben Sandwich cut in half with onion rings and a cup of soup each. It normally comes with a slice of pie, but they never brought the pie out (no worries). I ordered a hot pastrami sandwich and asked for mustard so our server said she would bring mustard out on the side of the plate, which was strange but whatever. We only waited about 7 minutes and our food arrived at the table. Everything looked delicious. The mustard came a bit later in a bottle, which was cool. Our server, Kathy, was super duper customer service oriented and we liked her a lot. I believe that she knew that the cooks would not make my pastrami sandwich right if I asked for it to be made with mustard, so she saved me a headache by bringing me a bottle of mustard on the side...excellent move Kathy! Overall, we had a good meal. The hot pastrami was ok. I made the mistake of using the bathroom before we hit the road. It was small and there were no paper towels. I let another server know when I came out. The problem with that is that the male worker who came out of the restroom before me probably did not wash his hands...gross. I almost got sick but I convinced myself that he didn't cook my food...eewwww

This restaurant is a gold mine! City Hall should update their name to Gold Kettle. Small and busy restaurant, but great ambience. Not too loud where you can't enjoy a conversation with your party. Service is great, very friendly and efficient. All items are great. Their Eggs Benedict (comes extra runny) is one of the best I've had from a local diner. I will definitely be back.

We enjoy this place every time we visit Idyllwild. They have the most friendly staff. The food is delicious, we have enjoyed both breakfast and lunch at this wonderful place. They have a nice little outdoor patio where we were able to have our pup with us. She even enjoyed some egg and bacon. I highly recommend this great place.

What a wonderful little diner; right in the heart of Idyllwild. If you are looking for an early morning breakfast, this is the place. The food is unexpectedly good, with 'worth it' bacon. Our smart and seasoned waitress helped us put together the perfect combo: split a spinach omelet & hash browns, add a side of bacon & 1 pancake (huge, fluffy, and slightly sweet). And the really good coffee just kept coming.

We came here for breakfast, I had delicious French toast and he had a junkyard omlet. When I was at school (30 years ago!) we would come here... I've always love the Red Kettle! I hadn't been here many years and our server and host were extremely helpful in recommending a barbershop and an ev charging station nearby.

Great breakfast spot! We stopped here during our camping trip, and it was such a delicious spot for breakfast. I ordered the Denver Omelett (with cheese), fruit, and sourdough bread. The omelette was huge, I couldn't even finish it. The fruit was nice and fresh and the bread was perfectly toasted. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. They have a cute patio with a good bit of outdoor seating that allows dogs. My dog loved the place and her plain scrambled egg.

I ate here for breakfast twice during a stay in Idyllwild. I enjoyed it so much the first day that I came back and enjoyed it even more on my second visit. This traditional diner is housed in a historical, rustic building and the combination of atmosphere, top-notch diner food, and personal, cheerful service resulted in my high rating. My first visit I had eggs benedict with hash browns, The eggs were done perfectly, the English muffin toasted with crisp edges, and the ham was smokey-delicious. The hash browns were soft inside with a perfect crispy outer layer. The second visit was simply scrambled eggs, bacon, sourdough toast, and fresh fruit. All were prepared perfectly and the fresh fruit consisted of a wonderful variety (grapes, watermelon, strawberries, honeydew, and cantaloupe). On both of my visits I ate indoors but they also have a patio for days less hot than when I was there. I was in Idyllwild during midweek and was able to walk right in and be seated but I bet on weekends there'll be a wait.

Really nice place. One of the few restaurants that was open on a Monday for lunch. Four of us with a dog. We sat on the deck (left side of my really bad pic). Our waitress was fantastic. Really friendly and helpful. I got the turkey melt. It was wonderful. My daughter got the grilled cheese. Others got the chicken fried steak. It was all great. We're in from out of town but if we're ever here again (likely) we'll definitely stop in again.

A good option for breakfast if you're an early riser. We all ordered different items for breakfast: country biscuit with gravy, French toast and polish sausage. The 2 strips of bacon that came with my order were especially delicious. It was the star in my takeout container. Meaty, not fatty, just right thicker with a slight chew, definitely a must try. The portions are so generous both hubs and I had enough for breakfast the next morning.

location & parking: located on the main street of idyllwild in town! amongst many other lovely local businesses. there is plenty of street parking around and it's in a walkable area in town food & drinks: overall pretty good! super authentic, well made, flavorful, and yummy. their breakfast foods really hit the spot if youre looking for a good ol american diner breakfast. eggs benedict $17 with cottage fries (deep fried potato cubes, similar to potato wedges) chicken fried steak & eggs $16 with hashbrown & biscuit in gravy service: came on a beautiful friday afternoon and beat the lunch rush! a tip is to try going not during rush hours, since theyre pretty popular and got filled up quick. the staff were kind and attentive vibes: the ambiance is "good ol american diner", cozy, comforting, and it has a great cabin vibe too overall: 5/5 stars, def bookmarked this place for my next visit to idyllwild, when in need of some classic diner food

I was at this place for a brunch. The staff is very nice and friendly. The food is so good here. If you are in this area I recommend to go check their food. The way the combo dishes are presented is so professional. Maybe they have a chef in their kitchen. Tip: If you have a dog, they will ask you to use the side door to enter the patio.

Had breakfast here last Monday and it was great! We had corned beef hash and eggs and huevos rancheros and both were delicious! Their coffee also really hit the spot. Highly recommend for a good breakfast before you hit the road for home or take a hike!

2 years later we decided to return here and very glad we did. We sat on the patio to people watch and enjoy the beautiful weather while we ate. The food here is amazing! I suggest the Chef Salad! Delicious! Great friendly service. Happy customers everywhere inside and out on the patio. Weekdays are best to get the seating you want. Weekends are a bit busy.

Solid American restaurant with greattt breakfast. I was craving American breakfast for a while and this place satisfied my cravings. The atmosphere and vibe of the whole place was so warm, cozy, and lively. The food was so yummy and there were a lot of condiments to enhance the food. American breakfast is so bomb. The service was great, everyone was so nice and accommodating for us! The fruit had a lot of variety as there was strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and pineapple and it was all very fresh and tasty. The waffles and toast were cooked well. The omelette has chunks of sausage and it was yummy. Overall, a very solid place!

It was my wife's and mine first time trying and the environment was super reminiscent of going back home to a home cooked meal! Parking is super limited if your staying in town then it's definitely walking distance from other locations such as gift Shops and other stuff which is super convenient ! The food was tasty as well my wife got the huevos rancheros and I got the eggs Benedict. Both were good and the prices were reasonable as well. If your new to idllywild the servers are super nice as well! Ask them any questions about what to do around town and they will pint you to the right location

Nicest, most attentive and helpful staff I've ever met. The food is delicious and portions are very very generous. You are always welcomed as soon as you enter and seated immediately. The restaurant isn't recognizable from the photo but it is a very warm and welcoming dive with outdoor seating, patio heaters and they are very dog friendly! I'm going to walk a mile in the snow to get some breakfast there, believe me, it's worth the hike.

Stopped by this place after just arriving in town. The staff are all very nice and attentive. The burger definitely hit the spot. And the fries were cooked perfectly. I'll definitely go back next time I'm in town.

Great little breakfast /lunch place. Food was delicious and tasty. Service was excellent and the outdoor seating provides plenty of intimate space. There is also a dog bowl for your dog.

This is a traditional diner-style small restaurant right in the middle of Idyllwild; food isn't spectacular but it's very good given the fact that this isn't an expensive restaurant. They serve breakfast all day long (we'll, till 2pm when the restaurant closes) but if you want pancakes the griddle shuts down at 11am so keep that in mind. Their lunch menu is ok, chicken chili is amazing but the rest is ok. What really makes this place is its breakfast; huge homemade biscuits, home made patties plus locally produced sausage links complement your breakfast. Friendly service, hard to find that today. Expect long lines especially during the weekends. A must if you are in Idyllwild

One of the rare places that was open for breakfast in Idyllwild at 7am. I had a carry out order of breakfast burrito. It was good. Taking order was also good. There were many customers having breakfast inside before going to work. I can't comment on service since I did not stay inside.

Excellent service. A place like Cheers. Food was great . The go to place in your town.

Red Kettle serves diner breakfast food that is tasty and served with down to earth humor. The servers all work together so coffee is filled and the comfort food is served hot. I had the ham and eggs with rye toast and the hash browns were crispy. The ham was plentiful and the rye toast was buttered with love. My eggs were cooked perfectly. The hubby had French toast and I tried it. It had a lovely cinnamon flair. The Red Kettle impressed me with both their food and service.

This place is super cute and homie feeling. My wife and I have been twice. The service feels like you're being service by your Aunty at home lol the food is more on the basic side, but still very good and satisfying :). I highly recommend going :)

Authentic Idyllwild Cafe Come here for the people. Sit on the patio and talk w the locals and watch people downtown Idyllwild- be idyll. The food is okay, but well portioned. The refills are amazing - they are in it. But the staff makes this cafe a great hangout!

Great lunch today with our large group of 14. We celebrated a 4year olds's birthday, and our waitress lead the singing and even provided candles for the birthday cupcakes. All staff was very friendly and helpful. Yes, we recommend the Red Kettle!

This local spot is seriously Amazing !!! The food was delicious , they kept the coffee coming, & Grandma Kat is the sweetest most genuine soul!! We will definitely be back !!

Service was really friendly. The omelette was fluffy and good even though the spinach was a bit undercooked. The side of fruits was very sweet and fresh. The turkey burger is juicier and tastier with the grilled onions. The fries were thick and very crispy.

We came in on a weekend morning on the recommendation of a friend. Maybe we came in on an off day but for starters the service wasn't great. The food was bland. We had the California omelette -the avocado was a bit brown on top. The bacon was cold on the bacon and eggs. We asked for more half and half for our coffee and the server argued with us that we had it already. But what was on the table was non dairy creamer we had to take it out and show her the difference. She said she never saw that before. She did eventually bring a handful and toss them on the table. As I said not great service. I know folks really like this place so I would give it another chance but there are better breakfast places in town.

Been here twice over the years while in town for breakfast and lunch. Sad to say the food is not that great but the options in Idyllwild are pretty limited. It's your typical diner food with good fast service.

We came up here to getaway for the day! Just a nice ride and a beautiful place with so much snow! We stopped in town and decided to eat! This cute little coffee shop was packed so why not! We sat down and it was a little like going back in time! We ordered and the food came quickly! It was great I downed my fast as I was hungry and my wife said hers was good! They are open for Breakfast and lunch only! Our server was very nice and gave me a Togo cup filled with coffee! That hit the spot!

Stopped in here for lunch, cute little restaurant! Seated right away, everyone was so nice. I have to be gluten free, because of celiac, and our server Lindsay knew exactly what was safe and helped me order. We all ended up ordering breakfast food, my eggs, bacon, toast and fruit was great. My daughter loved the biscuits and gravy. And the way the waitress would bring her a new drink without even asking, great service. This will probably be our go to from now on in Idyllwild.

It was freezing when we visited idyllwild, and I was sooo looking forward to a hefty breakfast meal. This place did it. The staff is super friendly here, and you feel that they're trying to welcome you. The place is small but very cute. Totally has the small cabin/diner vibes, but it's clean and very warm inside. They do have some lighter, healthier options, but I ordered everything covered in gravy. The gravy, if I'm being honest, doesn't have a lot of flavor. A lot of pepper and butter but can easily be saved by some tobasco. Large portions and my friend had their pie and I was advised pie was absolute 100. I, sadly, couldn't have a single bite because I ate my whole plate. Will visit again when I'm in the area.

Fun lunch experience with the antics of Kathy or maybe Michelle. Lol We had a seat on the small patio. Husbands ordered fish n chips and the wives ordered the 1/2 sandwich special with delicious egg Florentine soup and guess what.....it came with a half slice of scrumptious fruit pie. I also splurged on a mug of decadent hot chocolate. Mmmmm Go here.

One of the best breakfast spots I've ever dined. A MUST while in town. Fast service as well & they like dogs too!

This is a must visit every time you are in Idyllwild. Superb and something for everybody on the menu.

Score: 8.5/10 Buzzwords: comfort food, great bite, breakfast/brunch We were quickly seated inside on a Tuesday afternoon visit and most patrons were in the middle if not finishing up with their meals. Initially, I had not been so hungry and was looking for something on the snacky side - not too heavy but would still hold me over for the next few hours - so I had ordered the sandwich special and along with it, an Arnold Palmer. My Turkey sandwich was simple yet effective, and the corn cream with bacon bit side soup that came with my plate was a little scoop of heaven. The final leg of my combo was a small hand-sized cherry pie which had a great crumbly crust topped with fluffy whipped cream. The Palmer was a bit on the sugary sweet side, which I found to served well as a great refresher between bites. My girlfriend ordered a spicy chicken sandwich & side salad with a regular iced tea. The sandwhich itself was really flavorful without being too runny and sloppy to hold like most other chicken sandwiches are when loaded like this one was - peppers, melted cheese, pickles, and lettuce. Side shoutout to our waitress Kim, did a spectacular job and addressing our needs despite juggling so many other tables! Overall, great place to grab an early morning/brunch meal in a charmingly interiorly decorated and well lit space.

So many cool individual personalities and hard workers and cuties and the flow of seating the maximum number of people as super fast as Possible is unprecedented anywhere in the world . Global dominance for sure . I like cheeseburgers onion rings pronounced ung yun ,and the shakes made from real ice cream are Making my mouth water 4 hours after they closed now

We just returned from our annual sojourn to Idlewild. Five lovely nights there; five delicious breakfasts at the Red Kettle! The entire staff are friendly and professional with the meals come out of the kitchen as ordered and hot! Granted, we usually visit during Thanksgiving or Presidents' Day; however, the place is always booming with locals as well! My wife and I would like to thank Tamra and Bonnie for their cheer and service! By the way, 3% off for those who pay cash!

We came here for lunch on a sunny day and decided to sit on the patio. The employees know that they have a lot of bees buzzing around the patio and didn't tell us. I spent the whole time waving them away and hoping they wouldn't sting me. I gave up on eating my turkey sandwich and just placed a napkin over it. Fortunately I wasn't stung. I told the waitress about the bees and she said that they are here all the time. Thanks for the heads up- NOT!!

Took my two brothers and spouses and my cousin here for a late breakfast. As usual, always impeccable service and hospitality. Freezing cold outside for the wait but worth it. Always a great time and great food.

Service was too slow. Our food took an hour to come out. Food was blah, burger and chicken sandwich was dry. Will never go back!

This is the place to go for breakfast. The place was packed but we were able to find a table. Food was plentiful. Locals like to hangout there. Will go back again

Great location, enthusiastic staff, and good food! What else could you want? Well - I think they should remove the pastrami reuben sandwich from their menu. It is truly terrible. Thick sliced, overcooked pastrami, crappy sauerkraut, skimpy Swiss cheese and 1000 island dressing that is runny! My companion's French dip was very good, if a little light on the beef. The steak fries were tasty also. The potato salad is pretty good, although they put sugar in it, which I don't really care for.... Why three stars and not less? The staff is PHENOMENAL! Great vibe. Just don't get the reuben sandwich!!

What's not to like? Great people and super good food. My normal haunt going through Idyllwild.

Delicious. Huge portions. Great service. Gluten free options. Friendly servers. Had a scrumptious breakfast that kept us full till dinner time.

We went to the Red Kettle for the first time on 22 Oct 2022. Actually it was our first time in Idyllwild. Red Kettle was very fabulous . I ordered scrambled eggs soft, cottage fries with onion and rye toast. My partner had eggs sunny side up, corned beef hash, cottage cheese and corn breed. We both had coffee. Everything tasted delicious and cooked exactly how we wanted. The coffee is good too. Our hostess and waitress were very sweet and friendly. They checked on us a few times and kept our coffee filled. I can see why Red Kettle is the top choice of a restaurant in Idyllwild. The place was packed but we got a seat quickly. We sat outside at the counter with our two fur babies. We will definitely go to the Red Kettle again. Maybe next time I'll order a sandwich or patty melt.

A quick jaunt up the hill to Idyllwild for some mountain air and a small walk to do a bit of shopping landed us here. We've yet to have eaten at this place over the years but decided on the American cafe thing today. A very small mountain cafe populated by locals and visitors with a small deck outside if the weather permits. A common American themed menu with many house-made offerings like pies, muffins and some of the salad dressings. A service staff of some very friendly folks worked as an orchestration to fend off the busy crowd during the lunch hour. Food was good (flavors, seasoning and texture) and plentiful. We had lunch but I think the breakfast seems to be what we missed. Good stuff up here at elevation. Dicks

Service was great. Ambiance is great. Town is great. Food, however was a C at best. I had fish and chips: chips were white and uncooked. Fish was from a box and greasy and over-cooked. I should have known something was up when I asked what the corn beef hash was like. "From a can", I was told. The Horrors! Why even serve that crap... I was looking so forward to this meal as the place is so darn cute and just should serve amazing food.