Absolutely love and adore Cafe Aroma! We were able to sit in a private room that was cozy with cool art. The food was spectacular and frankly unexpected for small mountain town dining! We had some delicious toasts to start. Cacio e pepe with black truffle with cauliflower rice substitute was fabulous! Alexander chicken pasta, ribeye, were fantastic. I'm definitely going back to try their bananas foster! The menu is very accommodating of dietary allergies and many items are gluten free or can be made gluten free; vegan/vegetarian options as well. Love the layout of the restaurant and thoughtful decor and furnishings. Nice mix of indoor and al fresco dining options. Great bathroom art, especially the naked lady, lol. The service was friendly and on point. Highly recommend! read more

We absolutely loved our evening at Cafe Aroma! Great food including delicious abd fresh vegan options, amazing ambiance, and fantastic service. If feels elevated while still being very cozy and welcoming, making for a lovely dinner on the mountain. Been dreaming of going back since we left! read more

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Cafe Aroma came highly recommended. First thing, the restaurant is beautiful and truly a special place to enjoy your evening. We arrived close to 6pm on a Sunday and they were quite busy. We chose a hi-top table outside to best take in the music and view. Unfortunately the chairs had no backs on them and became quite uncomfortable for an older couple with back issues. I noticed after our first course and round of drinks, the table next to us became available. I ask if they would move us. I was told no, they had reservations for that table. As the evening proceeded, more tables became available and that table sat empty. At the end of the evening that table remained empty, so I politely inquired about it and by no surprise I was told they cancelled. We started with a Caesar salad which was average at best. I asked the waiter how the 16 oz rib eye was, at MP. He informed me it was excellent and it would be $60. We decided to order it and have it spilt, which is additional $5 to cut it in half and place it on a separate plate. Nearly 30 minutes later (which is fine, we weren't in a hurry) it came out. The steak was truly unremarkable, I took one bite and it lacked flavor and I noticed it was overcooked, ordered medium rare, it was closer to med well. Waited additional 15 minutes to get out sever to send the steak back. The steak itself was so underwhelming, I ask him to change the order to the NY. Waited another 20 minutes to get the NY, it came out medium rare and was quite flavorful. One of the hostess noticed what was going on with the return of the steak and the long wait times and says we should comp you a glass of champagne/dessert. I said that would be nice. We ordered another glass of champagne and dessert and neither was comped! This is a beautiful restaurant that seems to cater more to their local clients. read more

Reserved one of the cute tables in the bar area on a Wednesday night in the summer. Live music was playing in the patio area which was lovely. Our waiter and bartender Daniel was fun to talk to and was very knowledgeable and accommodating with our menu questions. Loved all of the vegan dishes we ordered. read more

Cafe aroma was one of the few dinner options available in town so in knowing that the bar was pretty low. The service was pretty good and the food came out in a timely manner. The salmon bites app was very tasty and the drinks were also good. The mains lacked flavor but overall a nice dining experience. read more

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Exceptional service and exceptional food. Must be the best in this area. A truly lovely evening. Impressive wine list. So glad I stopped in. read more

Cafe Aroma - Excellent salad - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

This was the one place in Idy we hadn't tried yet so we decided to try it out on a girls weekend trip. Pro tip: don't park in the village and walk uphill to the place. It's almost a mile away. That said, when we arrived at 2.00 pm, we were starved. Luckily we made a reservation for an outdoor table and were seated right away. We ordered Aperol Spritzs and they were delicious. Perfect for the heat and tiredness from the uphill walk after a 5 mile hike! I ordered the pea flour rotini. They didn't even charge me extra! I am gluten free and I wanted to keep asking them if it was indeed gluten free. It tasted exactly like real pasta and perfectly cooked. The sauce was great but the chicken was average. The Parmesan slices were a great touch. Everyone else really liked their food as well. I will definitely be back to this cute little restaurant in the woods! read more

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Came on a Sunday night. Live music added to a great experience. The duck was excellent. Drinks and wine selection are very good - substantial wine list. Our server and the host were great. read more

Great food, great service, great music. 10 am and it was the perfect wake up brunch. Best salmon toast ever and the deviled eggs are addictive. read more

Cafe Aroma - Siracha deviled eggs with candied bacon and salmon toast with goat cheese and capers!! - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Cafe Aroma has always been near and dear to my heart after living in Idyllwild for a duration; the ambience is warm and inviting, staff are friendly, efficient and nurturing, somehow knowing just how much interaction we wanted, local musicians serenading patrons with their talents. Much of the patio seating is now covered and warm in the cold months of the year. My partner and I were in town visiting a dear friend and wanted a bite to eat before heading home. Cafe Aroma was first on our list, we arrived 10 minutes before opening and stuck our heads in the door and was able to make a last minute reservation to be seated at opening. We went next door to the boutique gallery and bought a couple of gifts and were seated at opening. We're vegan and found options that I can only describe as gourmet, elegant presentation and delightful to the palate; whereas most mainstream restaurants vegan dishes seem to be an after thought. Prices were commensurable to restaurants of comparable stature and service was stellar and tipped accordingly. This visit renewed my appreciation of Cafe Aroma's contribution to local color of the magical place called Idyllwild! read more

It was so good we went back again the next night! There is nothing better than great food and wine with a great ambiance and wow, Cafe Aroma delivered! The service was perfect and we felt like regulars even though this was our first time. I'm a seasoned bartender myself and was impressed by the craft cocktail selection and the bartender's recommendations. The Alexander Chicken pasta is not to be missed (with added burrata)! Just booked a return trip to Idyllwild to share this hidden gem with others. Just trying to decide if I go ahead and book for a second night ahead of time! read more

Cafe Aroma - Bar area and kitchen - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Best service, best food, best cocktails, and best ambiance in Idyllwild. And the wine program is not only the best of any restaurant on The Hill (by far) but is award-worthy anywhere. Extra exciting: they're now serving brunch! I've only tested the Omelette du Fromage, but it was cooked perfectly -- French-style, not at all dry, light and fluffy. Excited to try more of the items on the brunch menu. We're so lucky to have a restaurant of this caliber in our small town. read more

This restaurant is outstanding IMO! The drinks were strong and delicious! I had the Daily Penicillin! Lemony, gingery and honey! And the Seafood Pasta outstanding! Seafood pasta is one of my go to dishes and this one topped the list! The blue muscles were so delicious... nice and buttery and garlicky! Our server Jen was terrific and owner Erik, was so nice to meet! Looking forward to coming here again sometime! read more

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I'd say the ambiance is awesome. Somewhat romantic dining environment. Dogs allowed on patio. Food is great. Nothing to complain really. Staff is friendly as well. It's a good place to dine in but recommend to make reservation. I think I like ferro slightly better but this is definitely a good restaurant in Idyllwild read more

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This has always been one of my favorite go to spots on the hill. It's consistently great food and good service. I especially enjoy the trout (something you don't see on too many menus and historically a classic and popular dish here in Idyllwild). It's also very dog friendly, so feel free to bring your favorite furry mammalian friends! They have a menu for them too. :-) read more

I have never been to Idyllwild, CA prior to coming here. Since January I have been pushing myself out of my comfort zone & dedicating my days off to new adventures & "discovering" new spaces. The ambiance here at Cafe Aroma was cozy & esquisette! My sister & I were served by Kendall. She was incredibly sweet & attentive, great customer service. As far as our entree went, we split the Creamy Pesto Penne. Aside from my unique love of pesto, this pasta was the most tasteful pasta I have ever eaten. Many compliments to the chef & currator of this delightful meal. We finished off with a Blueberry & Raspberry Torte, which was absolute heaven. If you are ever in the area or simply just want to try something new...I HIGHLY reccomend Cafe Aroma. You will not be disappointed. I plan on coming here on a regular basis monthly. Thank you kindly for your hospitality . See y'all again very soon. P.S. the pictures don't give nearly enough credit to the tastefulness & pure joy this brought us. read more

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Definitely a little gem - what a great find. I almost didn't realize it was there. 10 more steps on North Circle drive when you just don't think there is "anything else up the road" you will be pleasantly surprised. New owners super nice & knowledgeable. I am a vegan at times &I appreciate all food :-) Vegan options are yum. read more

My girlfriend and I visited Idyllwild a few weeks ago for a romantic outdoor getaway. It was great, such a cool town with an amazing vibe! After an epic hike to the Tahquitz peak, we had a really great and enjoyable dinner at Cafe Aroma! The food was tasty - you can taste the New Orleans influence, the vibe was really cool and we loved chatting with Adrienne! Really fun night! read more

3rd time I've been misinformed by the person who handles reservations. 3rd time I've walked away to another restaurant. This time, upon calling to confirm reservations (their TouchBistro text confirmation app doesn't work), a very confused staff member told us they "don't have a bar... you have to BYOB". Apparrently this is not true. No bar?! she left our party of 4 and the staff of their competitor restaurant down the hill in a quandry. Have they lost their license? Are they going to close? A follow up call revealed that they do have a bar. A full bar! Amateur Hour at Cafe Aroma. read more

Cafe Aroma is such a cool place to have a meal. The building itself feels like an amazing collection of houses somehow put together as one big beautiful space you want to stay and explore. I am partial to the little back room by a fire. They are willing to accommodate dietary restrictions and have fantastic vegan options and a to die for flourless chocolate cake. They often have live music and a reservation is highly recommended!!! read more

Food and service was fabulous! I can't believe I ate a snail and loved it! My salad was tasty!

The worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I called for a reservation, they told me they had one. I arrived right away. The hostess mumbled about not having a table by the patio or something. I sat in a small room waited to be helped for about 20 minutes. I tried to call attention to a waitress, who just ignored my call. I finally got up and told a waiter I hadn't been helped. I left without eating because I just felt this was not a place that welcomed me--a brown woman. I called back to tell them of my negative experience. The same waitress mumbled something about making mistakes and proceeded to hang up. The good food is not worth the micro- macro aggression of being ignored when everyone who did not look like me was being served lavishly. I know from experience I am not the only one who has had a bad experience at this place. What a shame!!! read more

Cafe Aroma was absolutely wonderful. I don't usually leave reviews, but this experience was too good not to share--I couldn't gatekeep this gem! The food was delicious, but what really made it stand out was the whole vibe: a beautiful, welcoming atmosphere paired with exceptional service. The energy was relaxed and warm, and every staff member was kind and attentive, and the waiter was impressively knowledgeable about the menu and wine selection. I'm not local, but the next time I'm in Idyllwild, I'll definitely be back. If you're looking for amazing food, top-notch service, and a genuinely good time, this is your spot. read more

We always enjoy the amazing service and food, especaially enjoy the live music on sundays. The owners really care, you can see it.

One of the greatest experiences as a chef I can have is when I expect a restaurant to be mediocre and it turns out to be incredible. I am honestly not sure if it's the owner or the chef, but somebody has the magic touch here. I was expecting some kind of boring health food, and instead, everything was approaching perfection. Tofu had the perfect crispy outside and creaminess. Kimchi balanced the palette. Perfect amount of spice, salt, flavor. The pumpkin gnocchi was exceptional. My Pilsner was the perfect cold temperature. The cheesecake was rich, the right amount of sugar, exactly how I wanted it to be. This is now going to be my go to spot in Idyllwild. Seriously, don't miss it. The service was friendly, helpful, inviting and awesome. Even the owner came out and checked on us. Perfect restaurant experience. read more

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I rarely leave reviews, but this visit was something else. Service was slow and I felt neglected, not sure the reason. The food is overpriced , just poor quality control. Will not being going back. read more

AMAZING!!! Make sure to make a reservation. The lady at the front was so sweet. It was able to squeeze us in. The dinner was amazing. We got the duck and the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken. Service was 10 out of 10. Will be back and will recommend!!! Also amazing atmosphere inside. read more

Cafe Aroma - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

We were on a girls trip to Idyllwild celebrating a 65th birthday. This is my favorite Idyllwild restaurant so we made reservations for three for dinner on July 19. Edgar was our server and right away, we connected with his friendly style. He was helpful in choosing our wine and our menu for the evening. We decided to share: - Winter Bistrous Salad - the blood orange shallot vinagarette was excellent on this lovely salad. - Heirloom Burrata - this was so good that, we bought all of the items to duplicate this the next day using my home-made tomatoes. Mine wasn't quite as good as theirs, but we tried! - Penne pesto with shrimp - we all loved this at the restaurant and it was just as good the next night when we took it home It was such a wonderful evening with the open air atmosphere, good wine, deliciously prepared food, great friendship and Edgar ensuring we all had a lovely evening. PS - I was here a couple of months ago with my husband. He had the cashew alfredo with shrimp, which was good, and I had the Duck a l'Orange which was excellent! This is a solid "go to" restaurant for us when visiting the magical town of Idyllwild. read more

Food, service and ambiance consistently good! We don't miss going here on every trip to Idyllwild.

So tonight, my wife and I came in to visit. We thought we'd sit at their cute little bar and have a cocktail. Then the owner, Eric, came to mention his special of a braised beef short rib over mashed potatoes with broccolini and a maple Demiglace gravy. The presentation was fantastic (boneless) and the meat after a 24 hour sous vide was amazingly tender. Color was proper and the taste was phenomenal. I asked if this was going to be a regular item on the menu and he says they are planning on it. So if you come in and see the brave short ribs, you must try it. read more

One of the worst customer service I have seen in a very long time. The owner clearly is out of his mind. Refrain from coming to this establishment unless you want horrible wait times, and wine splashed on your face from the owner himself read more

Our party of four thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience. The food, service and atmosphere were fantastic. We will definitely have to make an effort to come back again. read more

One of the most popular restaurants to visit when in Idyllwild! We came here for dinner on a Thursday evening & it was packed! Customer service was friendly but maybe a tad flustered because it was so busy. The restaurant is basically a cozy house. There is a bar as soon as you enter. We started off with several delicious cocktails & tried several of their pastas. The portions are huge! Ala Vodka: With salmon. The sauce was not as flavorful as I would like. The salmon filet was generous. read more

It's a beautiful restaurant with soaring ceilings, stone, wood and brick everywhere. It needs just a touch of TLC as the exterior was a little disheveled with some liter, organic debris and some broken wood on the building but certainly charming it is. Our server was amazing, and it was very nice to be not only served but treated so kindly and professionally, it's what I have missed most about dining out. Our server had a shadow, or trainee by her side yet we never felt crowded or over served. service was in short was perfect!!! On to the food I thought the menu was a touch uninspired when compared to the service and ambiance, None the less everything was tasty and delicious. We started with warm bread that is served with oil and garlic lots and lots of garlic, the bread was nice the oil was... well uninspired. The menu we had was brunchy and almost Italian. Our orders included Sausage sandwiches that promised to be served on Focaccia Bread and was actually served on Ciabatta bread, you know the square kind you find at the grocery store. I actually made my selection because of the promised focaccia, even though the sandwich was still tasty. Sandwiches are served with a small salad and a few pieces of fruit on the same plate, potatoes available for an up charge. A cashew pasta looked like Alfredo and was told it was very good. The Standout dish was the French toast, presented beautifully and garnered raves of pleasure with big smiles. I never order items like this, but I certainly had plate envy. We didn't order dessert and we were offered coffees made from a professional espresso machine. Would I return? You bet I would!!!! Even with all the other cool spots in town, I would love to be a regular here. read more

Cafe Aroma - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Delicious find! Go with people you love & who love you right back, because things are seriously garlicky. Fortunately I run in a garlic-loving circle. We dove unapologetically into the complimentary garlic oil and then ordered several garlic-heavy plates to taste & share. The cream of jalapeño soup is so good. Unique & not too spicy. We also loved the garlic seafood Alfredo. We didn't love the seating. Even though we had a reservation, there seems to be extremely limited good tables at Aroma. We were in the back room, but the overall vibe wasn't comfortable. Half of the restaurant is freezing & outdoors, those heat lamps aren't nearly enough. Definitely make a reservation & request the main room. Service is friendly & casual. No stuffy vibes, expect yummy warm comfort foods. read more

Cafe Aroma - Seafood Alfredo - $25 - Italian Near Me - Idyllwild, California

Have been here the last two nights for our anniversary getaway-It is in our top ten restaurants. It is delicious, eclectic, and charming. The little bar is lovely too. If you like a Carmel by the Sea feel, in the middle of the woods, this is it. The creme brulee was delicious too. read more

Bad experience at this legendary iconic restaurant in Idy. Sat at the bar and waited a long time before order taken. Then the food took painfully long to bring out. Not surprisingly, my chicken Alfredo was cold. No steam and lukewarm cold food. Then I waited and waited before he'd ring the credit card to leave. The gent at the bar waiting on me just did not seem to be on top of his game -- it was B service all the way. One of my biggest per peeves is leaving hot food sitting and not bringing it out. I probably should have sent it back. Oh well. Shame on them. Sad. Ruined my experience there. I hope they can do better than that. Party of 1 was, to him, like party of none. read more

Our dinner was excellent, both the food and the service. We had grilled trout, mushroom soup, salad, and coconut vegan crème brûlée. All of the dishes were delicious. The service was very polite, friendly, and attentive. We definitely want to come back sometime to try some additional items. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in Idyllwild! Cozy atmosphere, excellent service, and delicious food! I wish we had eaten here both nights we were in town. No other restaurant in town compares. read more

My wife and I ate here for our anniversary. The server was attentive and friendly. We loved the atmosphere. Great music was played. It was a romantic spot for us to celebrate. The food was delicious and interesting. The campfire old fashioned was spot on. We'll definitely go back. read more