Restaurant Gastrognome

Good service, tasty food, and a spectacular view. We shared French Onion soup, spicy edamame, and for our main courses an Alfredo pasta and a pork belly dish. Everything was delicious.

There were no guests anywhere in the dining room except us, but somehow the staff was very busy elsewhere & inattentive to service. However, the lamb was incredibly delicious, so kudos to the chef.

This is our second time dining in two days in a row because the food was good and the interior of the restaurant is beautiful. But it’s also safe to say that the servers who work here do not like what they do or they pick and choose their favorite customers and only treat them with decent smile and curtesy.

I love this place but… last Friday 8/31 I stopped in with my sister and ordered Fish & Chips. She ordered calamari strips. First it was lunch time and not packed, we still waited 30 min for our food. Second upon arrival the food looked amazing my dish had perfectly crispy French fries and golden crispy fish in generous size!! I was so excited I dove right in! After the first bite I felt a bit odd and looked down before my next bite only to see raw fish in my next bite! My stomach instantly was upset. The feeling of raw fish that’s meant to be cooked is nauseating, much like raw chicken. The server was kind and prompt to retrieve and grab me a French onion soup. Not sure what the issue was but due to table next to us getting muscles which were cold tells me kitchen. Was off? Third the owner was walking around and never came and spoke with me. They did not charge me for fish & chips but didn’t offer to comp any thing else. I suppose paying $60 for a lunch implies a better dining experience or an explanation? No thanks.

Ramon was the best chef. The lamb was mouthwatering melt in your mouth. The steak was cooked perfectly. The atmosphere was cozy. It's a high class meal with wonderful staff. Our waitress was attentive and we sat by the fireplace. We'd differently go again. The money spent was well with it. Nice place for a romantic date or just a meal.oh the apple cider with alcohol is not cheap on alcohol and warms you up on a cold night.

So guys I am not a restaurant critic, but just a regular person who informs you that this place is very tasty and cozy. My family and I came here two years ago and today. I ordered the steak and it was mild and delicious. My daughter loved the pasta with chicken. The portions are huge and the staff is nice. We were taken care of and the dinner was great! 👍

My family got in the car this morning, leaving from Pasadena, not sure where the road would take us. Luckily we ended up in beautiful Idyllwild. From the moment we entered your restaurant, we were welcomed by incredibly friendly staff. We have travelled the world, we just recently returned from a trip to Japan…we’ve been to hundreds of restaurants. Stephen is by far the best server we have ever had. He is incredibly warm, charming and just made you feel like you were home. He truly is a gem and just made our experience wonderful. Our food was delicious! We had fish and chips and French onion soup, so so good!! We can’t wait to go back!

Had dinner on a Thursday, early evening. We got sitted right away in the outside patio area. The weather was nice and comfortable. We got greeted by staff which were very friendly. They took out order of drinks. Then our food order. Asked for a few appetizers which they brought out right away, except for the bread that the server said as we were being sitted that he'll bring out. Still no bread after asking for it again. Food was brought out and it looked and tasted delicious. Still no bread.. Finally halfway through our meal the bread finally decided to join us. It was really good. Service was great. They kept checking on us. Highly recommend this place for dining if you happen to visit Idyllwild. It's fantastic!

Excellent food and had great atmosphere! We had amazing waitstaff but my only issue was the price. It is expected it would be high but it seems a little overpriced based on the food.

The service was good and the people were nice but the entire time I was there, I wished that we had gone someplace else. There wasn't a single thing on the menu that sounded good to me but my husband wanted to try it. Again, cute decor but that's about it. I know it's been around since the 70s but if I had to guess, it's changed hands at least once. I think the current owner must be Thai because the (obviously) previously European-ish menu now has things like "Thai-style" ramen and "Thai Beef Spaghetti." Nothing against Thai food, but this felt like those little places in LA that have doughnuts and pastrami and Chinese food. No one is going to do everything well. My husband got the Thai-style ramen. He said the broth was good but the noodles were angel hair pasta and the top looked like something out of The Flintstones with huge honking ribs laid over the top. None of the usual ramen toppings. I got the pasta with portobello and asparagus. It was super salty and they included all the woody stems of the asparagus that you're supposed to discard. All in all it just felt like a wasted meal. I feel bad because they were nice but their menu is terrible and the food indifferently done.

I ordered the special and it said on the sign that it came with greens but was rice The pork was so over done it was like eating a rock Expensive and definitely wasn't worth it.

Not a fan. Service is all over the place. You don't know who your waiter is. Most of staff is very young. I felt very awkward. I had a drink there and also picked up food. Both not great. I went in to pick up food and the hostess immediately asked me if I had a service dog, I said yes and I'm just picking up food. What am I supposed to do, flag someone down outside? Then I see a dog in a woman's lap at the bar. Discrimination much? Won't he going back. Work on your food and customer service.

My friends and I stopped in tonight for dinner, 4/10/25 at around 7:00pm. We ordered the pork chop, the chicken cordon bleu and the turkey BLT. Everything tasted delicious and the waiters were attentive and friendly. They have a bar so they can make drinks too, also Shirley Temples. The restaurant was cozy and had a comfy vibe. Dogs are permitted outside on the patio. I would definitely visit again and plan to try the blackened salmon dish or Gnomie's Ramen. Is a bit pricey though.

Website prices are significantly off to in person prices. $16 for the world's smallest margarita when it says $8.25 on the website . Plastic chairs for seating outside was somehow nicer than the inside seating. Staff was nice but stands outside and talks most of the time. The food wasn't bad but not worth the price. Over priced and mediocre food. Wouldn't recommend coming.

Decent outdoor dining on a nice sunny day. The staff was friendly, and my food was good, but not worth the price, frankly. However, it took 15 minutes before anyone took our order and almost an hour before we were served. We asked if they were short-staffed, specifically in the kitchen, and our server looked perplexed.

Today was the first time we tried Gastrognome. The sub-4-star reviews have honestly kept us away until today. However, we wanted to try someplace for lunch we had not been to. Let's start with the service. Steven was our waiter. He was amazing, better than any wait person in Idyllwild - hands down. I don't believe any restaurant in Idyllwild can provide better service. Essentially, he made lunch a pleasant experience. Because of him we will come back. The ambiance was also exceptional. We dined outside on a beautiful warm day. It was simply lovely. Umbrellas protected us from the sun. Rare I am this comfortable in any restaurant. So, let's get to the food. STEAMED MUSSELS It was a 4-star dish. Why? 1. Small portion. I never complain about portion size; however, this was a soup bowl full. See my picture. 2. Salty. I love salt, tend to salt everything to death. But there was just too much salt in the broth. 3. Cracked shells. Shells get cracked when the cooking process is too aggressive. I should not get shards of shell. I am classically trained in French cooking. There is a technique one must follow when cooking mussels. The flavors were good. The chef may have added fish stock (fume) to intensify the flavor. Just too much salt but correct flavors otherwise. RED SANGRIA Good sangria. I suspected a hint of orange liquor added - triple sec, Cointreau? It was good, cold and refreshing. We will most definitely return. There were several menu items I wish to try. The table behind us ordered Manhattan Clam Chowder and it looked delicious.

My first time in Idyllwild for a weekend trip. As soon as we got here we were hungry and ended up at Gastrognome for lunch. As soon as we sat down we already regretted coming here. As my husband was looking through Yelp reviews and pictures our waitress approached us and took the order of the drinks. We decided it will be rude to leave so we stayed. She was somewhat friendly and took our order for food. Two orders of Cheeseburgers for my husband and son, I ordered the turkey blt. The burgers were somewhat good but the turkey blt was truly uneatable. I took a bite and put it down and didn't touch it. The bread smelled like the dirty grill (the marks on the bread) and the turkey inside was slice of actual turkey breast that tasted horrible, I was thinking it's deli turkey when I ordered. I truly can't describe how horrible it was. I only ate the fries that came with it which was ok. My family finished their burgers and we waited for about 20 mins for the waitress to come back , when my husband decided to go ask for the check and a to go cup for the soda my son got she told him she will get back to him at the table when she has a minute. Another few minutes passed she comes. Noticed that I didn't eat the sandwich and didn't even make a comment. Took the sandwich and dropped the check and left ... few minutes later brought the to go cup, we paid and left. Also keep in mind this place is old, the interiors smells like old carpet and furniture. It's very dark and not cozy at all. We ate at the outdoor patio area. Overall not a pleasant experience here and won't be back for sure. There are so many good restaurants nearby that we ate at during the days we stayed here.

Stopped by here after a very long hike so we were starving. We asked for outside seats and sat outside in a little half nook with a fan over us so no flies. We ordered mussels and tuna nachos for appetizers the mussels came out first and it was fresh and had a good flavor. Tasted like there was fish sauce in there, which we love. The nachos didn't come out until after our food came. I forgot to take a pic but did have a few bites. It was really dressed up. My friends got the steak and fish and they ate all their food. The flavor for the salmon was perfectly seasoned, and not salty. I however got the burger and not sure if it's because I was getting a sore throat but I did not like my burger. It was really greasy and I wasn't in a greasy mood. Our service was great and their water was really filtered and def not sink water. What sucked was they didn't have a glass of Prosecco, I would've had to order a whole half bottle.

They had a special holiday menu. We ordered the veggie pasta and the house cider with homemade whipped cream!

Service by Stephen of Gastronome best I have experienced in a while. Wonderful above and beyond for my husband's birthday and we never mentioned it was his birthday. He must hv overheard us talking. Brought a desert with candle. Truly caring person. Food was good. The old fashioned ambiance is nice too. Thanks Stephen. We appreciate your providing such a nice experience.

Had a wonderful birthday lunch today with Crystal as our wait person. We are a senior couple, forgetting wallets, where the car is parked. We were a handful, but graciousness and sense of humour made it a wonderful day!;Her recommendation for our lunch was superb, and the ambiance was delightful. We will return!

The Caesar salad is amazing!!! They have great wine selections and various dishes to choose from. My boyfriend got a classic burger and it was pretty good. They have a fireplace inside so it's nice and cozy. Service was okay. I would definitely come back for the salad though :)

We happened upon this place, and chose it becasue we saw other dogs on the patio. Food was delicious-I got the Ahi Tuna stack, and salad with chicken. My dog and I enjoyed dinner:) Service was good, once we were inside. We waited a long time for someone to come to the Hostess bar to seat us. It's all good! Beautiful patio and views of the mountains.

Excellent good and service and ambiance. Fantastic French Onion soup by the fire. This is the best restaurant in idylwild.

What a pleasant surprise to find this gem in the small, artsy mountain town of Idyllwild. We were on a family camping trip that coincided with our wedding anniversary. After researching options, I called Gastrognome and was able to make a patio reservation with a super friendly employee. Apparently, the staff are all well trained because everyone that we met was friendly and attentive. The restaurant itself is super charming (we want to come back during the wintertime to check out the lounge!) and we enjoyed sitting outside on a warm summer evening. All of the food was executed very well. From the French Onion Soup (perfection), to pasta dishes (huge portions), to steak (flavorfully prepared). Oh, and the cocktails were delicious. It really was a delightful meal - elevated but not stuffy or too fancy.

My partner and I have named this restaurant our very favorite restaurant in the years that we have been coming to Idyllwild. The best food, chef, waiters and staff....bar none. However on our most recent visit to the restaurant we experienced just the opposite in food and a waitress who was not very available and seemed confused in medium and medium rare steaks that were toughened for the price and paltry mixed vegetables that were hardly cooked. Disappointing experience for us both ~ Needless to say the price tremendously outweighed the value and satisfaction. I have heard from the owner who was very receptive to my experience and in all honesty of my exceptional experiences in the past, I cannot re-judge based on one day or one experience.

This place is amazing! Seriously the friendliest staff out there :) got some drinks and they were great going to come back for dinner. The ambience is super old fashioned and cozy. 10/10

We tried a few different restaurants while in Idyllwild recently. This place had a comfortable atmosphere and the service was very good! The food was truly tasty and we would encourage folks to give this place a visit and enjoy some of the delicious items on the menu!

The server we had was so kind! She recommended the sausage pasta and it was so good! Also the bread and butter they give you is so delicious.

We were a group of 6. We ordered burgers, ribs, seafood pasta and soup. All the food was great. The atmosphere was relaxing and the service was exceptional. From the moment we arrived throughout our entire meal every person we encountered was very kind. We had a wonderful experience!

Excellent food and service, my party enjoyed it so much we came back a second night. As such, we got to sample several dishes and desserts, and they were all really great. This place is a wonderful spot to check out when in Idyllwild.

Overpriced for the quality of food. Never had such sticky overcooked rice. Used to dine there regularly but no more. Very hard to find good food in IDY. Nice waitstaff.

My husband and I come up to Idyllwild at least a couple times a year. We have always loved this restaurant for its charming old school vibe. Great food too, Unfortunately last night was ruined by the most horrible, mean spirited, nasty bar tender I have ever had at a restaurant. She acted like she hated everyone and everything. There was someone before that was amazing... Not sure what happened to her? But, if you want any business at all please get rid of the hag you have now

Great service, I had the special, Korean chicken, totally not a fan, but they took it off my bill.

The food was not it at all.The burgers were nasty and pink inside when we asked for it cooked well.They added their own tip which was $30.Not happy about that.It was over priced as well.My honest opinion is to not eat there.Don't waste your money on a place like this.

The service overall was terrible. We ordered and didn't get our food for such a long time. We had to ask for the check twice before we finally got it. Rainbow trout plate was bland. The trout, asparagus and potatoes all lacked flavor. The winner was the angel hair alfredo dish. That one was the only dish worth ordering and the reason I gave 2 stars. Will not be back.

This used to be my favorite restaurant up to a year ago when I last visited Idyllwild. I normally ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu which was always excellent. I thought today I would order the ramen with shrimp and vegetables. It was a big mistake. The shrimp was tough and the meal just wasn't that great. My husband ordered the trout which was good but a very small portion. In the end, we paid $60 for Ramen and a small piece of trout with vegetables. The bread was excellent as always and I would give Five Stars to our server, Steven, who was so attentive and friendly. He came back often to check on us and ask if there was anything we needed. I just didn't have the heart to tell him about the food. This is sad because I really want this restaurant to continue and have quality food like it had before. I still really enjoy the ambience of this place.

I think I was sick from the crab linguine. Staff was in and out... it was off season. But I did spend the night to and from the bathroom. A great disappointment, because the location in the village is first rate.

I really like this place. Big outdoor patio that is dog friendly. The inside is cool and feels like you are stepping straight back into the 70's with the fireplace in the middle of the room. Super cozy! Food is good. We had angel hair pasta that was really good. The portions here are huge! If you are in Idywild and looking for a nice central place for lunch and dinner this the place for you!

I'd give it 5 stars except the price for food is exceptionally high. Everything up in Idyllwild is and this restaurant is excellent quality food just a little more expensive than what I care to spend. Ate there once won't go back again. Service was good food was cooked well and tasted good just too expensive for my budget. It is easy for a group or family of 4 to spend $120.00 or more for lunch especially if they order drinks Retired seniors on fixed limited income should eat here on special occasions as a treat once in a while because it is a great place to eat. If they offered senior discounts I would try it again Hey it's a tourist town and very wealthy people enjoy eating here so if you can afford to please enjoy this establishment. I am not able to but you can P S my dog had a chicken breast she loved it that was also a bit pricey but she is worth it

We went to the Gastronome today because it was the only restaurant in town that serves lobster. I ordered the rib eye and my boyfriend ordered the lobster. Both were cooked to perfection. We ordered a bottle of Riesling. Very good. Also we were celebrating my birthday. I had the cheesecake. My boyfriend had the chocolate mousse. Again both were perfect. Steven was our waiter. He really was great. I highly recommend. We will be back again for sure.

We came in today Sunday Evening we ordered drinks and calamari as an apataizer we didn't even touch it of how bad it tasted. I ordered a burger and my sister order pasta both tasted really really bad. The waiter is really nice but the food compared to the price is really not good. I asked for my patty to be thiner they didn't even do that. Bad experience overall

Nice old time feeling restaurant, hidden in Idyllwild. Stopped by here for lunch while up playing in the snow for the day. Nice and warm and real wood fireplace makes the place smell and feel so inviting! Being freezing and wet and cold and tired probably helped that cozy feeling also. LOL The place feels old inside but was clean and organized well. Very busy on snow weekends so get there early if you want a seat. On that note, they were totally ready for the crowd and handled it so well. We were seated about 5 minutes before they actually opened and given bread and water before they opened. I watched the action as almost a hundred people made their way in for lunch. Customer service remained awesome and the food was prepared as quickly as possible and ours was pretty good. Ordered the burger and Caesar salad with chicken. A little pricey but we were in the middle of the mountains at one of a few places that served good food. Totally worth the few extra dollars. The food was good. I haven't tried many other spots up in Idyllwild lately so I can't compare this place much. I would definitely eat here again. Check it out.

This place sits in the corner right across from the town center. Its location is pretty perfect as you can sit outside and take in the beauty of Idyllwild. The menu is simple but good. The portions are large too. The prices are reasonable. They have vegan options, and I believe I saw a gluten-free option too. Their drinks menu is quite extensive, with plenty of wine options (which are perfect for drinking during fall and winter). They also have mixed drinks, though. In case you need something a little stronger. The staff is beyond friendly, super well mannered, and accommodating. They kept checking on us and just making conversation, but never in an annoying way. We felt very welcomed. So why the four instead of 5 stars, you may ask? Well, you see, I have this thing with bees. Apparently, bees and wasps are somewhat of an issue there during summer and the start of fall. So we sat outside, not knowing this situation, and then boom, a cute little tiny yellow coat came for my food . I quietly got up, hoping that it would go away, and it did, only to come back stronger and uncute. Of course, they know about the issue of bees so, they immediately accommodated us inside, next to the lovely fireplace. Unfortunately, inside, it no longer felt like a mini-vacation it was nice, don't get me wrong, we just wanted the fresh air instead. Overall, we will be back when it's snowing, and the bees are too cold to fly also, I know some people has a bee allergy so now you know to sit inside.

The ambiance and service was excellent. I ordered a turkey sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. It was served with piping hot crispy fries . The turkey was dry and too salty to enjoy. So was the bacon. I ate part of the first half, and took home the other half for BF.

Wish I would've seen Dana's review before ordering the fried chicken. It was terrible. It had some strange breading vs normal fried chicken - the seasoning was off -and I'm not sure the chicken was thoroughly cooked. All in all a true disappointment. I gave 2 stars as others in my group thought their lunch orders were good. Not sure I'm very excited to go back here.

We called in saying we had a party of 6...they were like "Come on in!" We showed up, they had a table set aside for us. Food was delish and our waiter Stephen was an absolute delight! I mean...he brought me more bread for my yummy muscle sauce without me even asking. A perfect night of great food, great service and they were so accommodating! Thumbs up!

Our family came to Idyllwild for the day and ate at Gastrognome. The outdoor tables are so breezy and comfortable, it's a wonderful setting. We had excellent service and an even better meal. The food is 5 stars! We ordered the mussels appetizer and the bread dipped in the sauce is to die for. French onion soup is delicious. Our family also ordered the lobster tail, burger and trout. Everyone raved about their choices. The dessert mousse is smooth with a homemade whip cream perfect with a side of espresso. Highly recommend!!

First, this place had apparently been around since 1972. So they have managed to survive everything over the years. It is a dinnerhouse. The food is wonderful and the finish is lovely. I love the beef and spicy thai sauce. It's cubed what eats like filet in a spicy asian sauce over angel hair pasta. LOVELY. One of our friends had the ribeye steak and the sides (broccoli and pilaf) was an excellent combination. The owner, Edmund does come out and check in on the tables which is a bonus.

Four of us drove us to Idyllwild for half a day trip. We got in around 5 pm and the place is not too busy. We ordered SoCal Burger and Gnome Dip. Both plates were pretty tasty. Meat is tender and sauce is well balanced. I don't mind paying higher price if the food is good and we really enjoyed the food. The server was very attentive and friendly. Constant refill on Coke and Diet Coke. Excellent t service. We now have a go to place in Idyllwild.

Grabbed dinner here with some friends on a Sunday night. We were seated right away and the waiter was very tentative and humorous. The vibe was also cozy. I ordered the asparagus, portobello pasta and it was DELICIOUS! Will come backa

Service is great! Been here a handful of times. Last night we had the duck and it was FLAWLESS!!! Cooked perfectly with seasoning out of this world Last time we had the filets and they were also excellent! Pricing is fair for the food you get and the ambiance is very fitting, cozy, and makes you wanna come back!

I really enjoyed the food and the inside is cozy and quaint. Very attentive service and the food was great. It is a bit pricey but felt value was solid. Would certainly come back and recommend.

We've walked past this restaurant twice on our walk around idlwild and decided to eat here and I'm so glad we did! I had hot apple cider with kick of brandy and it warmed me right up, the restaurant it's self was amazing warm on this freezing evening so it was perfect! The ambiance is so so cozy and homey. The service was awesome. My toddler enjoyed her beef pasta and the complimentary bread with butter which was so yummy as well. We will be returning back here on our next visit for sure!!!

The spinach artichoke dip was great! We also super appreciate the diabetic accommodations to skip the bread and have crudités instead. Unfortunately my salmon was severely over cooked (albumins were visible, inside was dry), the vegetables were inconsistently cooked and under seasoned. The wine butter is pretty terrible. This was served with my entrée and my partner (who ordered steak and hated it too). No elevation or connection to either dishes and just perplexing. This is way overpriced for the quality of food. For these prices I would expect quality, not cafeteria quality. We were so excited for an anniversary dinner, but disappointed.

The place itself is throwback cute... that's where it ends. We started off with the $14 onion soup... such a sad affair... standard beef soup base stock... the few onions, showed no sign of carmelization, the mess on top was mystery cheese (no Gruyere here), with no browning whatsoever. Let's move on to what they are passing off as a $21 Turkey Sandwich... this was nothing short of insulting... the two pieces of dried out meat (one light one dark) didn't come close to filling the rather gritty, lackluster roll. The "sliced" tomato looked like someone went psycho on the poor thing. The fries? Standard out of the bag. Our server was overwhelmed, clearly they were understaffed. When we voiced our concerns to the manager about the dire condition of the food, she immediately became haughty... "that's how we serve it" "the onion soup was put in the broiler" "we've been doing it this way for 50 years" ... that being said not even a hint of apology... members of our family have been going here for over 20 years... nothing could have been more disappointing !! Simply a tourist trap with little pride or regard for hospitality

Awesome delicious food. Nice 5 star waiter. A must try place if in the area. Good environment.