Off the beaten path! It is so worth the stop. Everything is homemade! Everything is incredible!…read more The soup to a burger! It was awesome! Service is excellent! Hometown feel! Nice people!

We started coming here because our family photographer (XO Kim -- check out my review!) highly…read morerecommended it, and it has become our tradition after every photo session for about five years. Enticing our kids with the animals at XO Ranch and then grabbing food at Descanso Junction has been our routine that just works. It has made taking family pictures a better experience. We always bring our dogs to the photo shoot and sit outside on the patio at Descano Junction Restaurant. We have enjoyed sitting outside. There is a wooden chair that my kids love squishing themselves into. At night they have garland lights. Unfortunately the laat time we came the heater did not have gas and we were freezing. My two younger kids still opted to eat with us because they wanted to eat with our dogs and sit in the chair. Portions here are generous and priced well. Honestly, I could probably share with my youngest, but since it's a bit of a drive for us, we each get our own dish and take home leftovers. Some menu items are served only at certain times and days, so plan around that. Service has always been consistently good -- friendly and attentive, even when we're seated on the patio with the dogs. They sell dog friendly burger patties for $5.99. Our Favorite Items Smaller Bites These come with two sliders and one side. We've tried all the options and have zero complaints. Burgers My kids love the burgers here. They're a great size and always come out juicy. We order them Medium to Medium-Well. For sides, you can pick fries, potato salad, or coleslaw, or pay extra for battered onion rings, soup, or a salad (I usually upgrade). Favorites for my family: * Traditional * Bacon Cheeseburger * Ultimate Burger My favorite burger is the Mushroom Burger I'm a mushroom lover, and this one is always cooked perfectly. Taco Salad Huge. I order it with Carne Asada and it's delicious every time. BBQ Combo: You can create your own combo. Options: Jack Daniel's Tri Tip Saint Louis Style Pork Ribs Smoked Pulled Pork Desserts I'm a dessert person. I don't have a must eat here but its a good way to end the meal. We have tried the brownie, cheesecake and apple pie. If you're in the area, definitely check this place out. Great portions, fair prices, tasty food, and consistently good service. And don't forget to walk around the shops on the same lot afterward.

Last year I was hiking the PCT and a bit of snow and ice spread out over 3 days grounded me in…read moreMount Laguna. So, I grabbed a room across the street at the Mt Laguna Lodge and ate many of my meals at The Outpost. I am going to be completely honest here... I fell in love with this place because of so many reasons, but mainly because it took care of "my people"... yes, the backpackers. The service was so incredible. From the friendly guys in the back on the grill supplying me with ingredient information to the professionalism of the lovely young lady working the register... to the barkeeps to an amazingly talented woman from San Diego who was the musical talent one evening... I seriously don't feel you could assemble a more amazing cast to encounter all in one place. The food... what kind of 5-star review of a restaurant would be complete if you didn't mention the food? Well, it was equally as great ... I found no reason to claim that the selections I purchased were anythjng less than flawless.... yeah, flawless. With a lot of people coming up from Greater San Diego on the weekends, they put out some incredibly amazing BBQ offerings (but only on the weekends). I never wanted to leave and they probably thought I was moving to the mountain beeeeecause mosat backpackers stay overnight ans then they are gone. Not me, lol. I need to say that no proper review of this business would be complete without saying that the husband and wife team running the place were well beyond super cool to me. Oh, and you know you stayed in town a good long time when you leave knowing all about little league teams having games canceled because of the weather and the history of the local structures. Fast forward almost a full year, and now... needless to say that I was pretty bummed out when I did a spur of the moment, 3-hour drive to Mt. Laguna (Saturday, March 7, 2026) for a re-experience, only to find The Outpost closed due to a septic leak. I am sure hoping that they will have this all fixed up soon... especially with the Pacific Crest Trail hiker season having launched on March 1 (it runs through May 31). Since the people that run this place are awesome folks, I would hate as much for them to miss out on their potential income as I would be disappointed for the hikers who may fail to have the chance to have the excellent experience that I had in 2025. Best advice: Call ahead to ensure they're open. My fingers are crossed... Respectfully, I Remain, "Trail Chef" P.C.T. 2025

My family and I stopped by here during our stay in Mt. Laguna. I must admit that I wasn't expecting…read moremuch given how remote the area is. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the food was. We ordered the smoked wings, a California burrito, the little Laguna BBQ board , chicken strips and a pizza and everything was delicious. The food was flavorful and perfectly seasoned. The restaurant has inside and outside seating. The service was great. The lady was friendly and patient while we decided what to order. If we're ever in town again, we will definitely stop by The Outpost.

Pretty sure it's closed. Permanently. The roof is caving in. Went by there today and saw the state…read moreof it including the aforementioned roof, broken glass windows, boarded up everything, no cars in the parking lot, etc. We continued in our way...

The food was great service was awesome would definitely recommend this location to anyone that's…read morelooking for some great food or a quick bite

Food was delicious and large portions. Service was quick and…read moreservers were friendly. Highly recommended and will definitely return to try different pies and entrees.

A place for family get-togethers, we have been here many times for the good times. Smaller than…read moreusual gathering this time, five for lunch mid-week. We ordered the Avocado Bacon burger with Onion Rings, Bacon Burger with Onion Rings, 2 orders of Apple walnut salads, and a Reuben sandwich with Onion Rings. Burgers were made to order, and onion rings were perfect. The Reuben was stacked with meat, and Apple walnut salads, fresh ingredients, and ample size, including a choice of Janet's pies: apple, blueberry, etc. Service was excellent, prompt, and efficient. The whole restaurant gives that homey country feel, complementing the town of Alpine.

Great service and the food was great. We had the Prime Rib sandwich, the Steak Sandwich, the Club…read moreSandwich. All of them were delicious and HUGE. Particularly the Club. Enjoyed it and will definitely return.

I have been to Alpine Tavern many times in the past and it was consistently good. I was really…read moredisappointed when I went for a late lunch with friends today. They were out of steak, I normally order the steak sandwich. I ordered the Chicken Cobb sandwich. My friends ordered the seared ahi salad and the prime rib sandwich specials. The food took awhile to be delivered. My friends orders came out first, mine came out a couple minutes later. The presentation looked great. The tater tots were cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, the chicken and prime rib were overcooked and dry. I'm not sure if I'll go back. I used to enjoy eating here.

If you're looking for a restaurant with amazing food and your treat like family, this is your spot!…read more Every dish looked award wedding. We had a pleasure of sitting at the bar and got to watch all the food passed by us. Every item looked like it made to protestation. The enthusiasm of the ownership is something you don't see these days. I will give this place 12 stars if I could.

I've been here twice after tough hikes in the heat out at Mount Laguna. Both of the times I've been…read morehere I was dying for a burger and a beer. This little restaurant is owned by a couple French guys and to be honest they've got some really interesting looking French dishes on their menu that I bet are fantastic. I would love to try them sometime and I bet that would increase my score of this restaurant. They've got four taps and the beers come out frigidly cold. Absolutely perfect after being outside. My burger was pretty good, the patty definitely gave me frozen burger vibes, but the fries were amazing. They are that battered type that is super crunchy. I asked for a side of ranch dressing and it was a prepackaged Ken's steakhouse branch. Was a little disappointed by that, hoping for homemade ranch, but not a dealbreaker. The server was very friendly and very quick. The interior is cute, looks like a log cabin, and in the front, there is a very nice looking patio area that if you want to be outside looks quite enjoyable. They are obviously very supportive of the PCT hikers. They've even got a little area where you can buy snacks and put them into a donation bucket for the hikers which I think is cool.

I had read quite a few reviews before I decided to give this place a try, not to mention having to…read morebe in the area of an out of the way location. I went with the Nickel Pickle burger that most seemed to like and I have to say was pretty damn good. Sitting on a bun that fit the burger well (sometimes the burger is too small for the bun an visa versa) built on a layer of pickles and nickel special sauce sits a quality burger patty topped with a slice of cheddar, tomato, and a bed of arugula or what appears to be a spring mix of lettuce. All in all it worked. While savoring each bite I washed it down with a Russian River Blind Pig. I was disappointed they were out of Pliny the Elder but BP is a good second choice. The beer list is legit by the way; local craft beers including Nickel Brewery in Julian well represented. I'll be back, maybe bring the family and give the menu a proper go.

Had lunch at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant yesterday with my two daughters and came away very impressed…read more-- not only by the food, but especially by the service. The burgers were very tasty, the fries were excellent, and the relaxed atmosphere near the lake made for a really enjoyable stop. What made the visit especially memorable was our server, Will. After placing our order, I realized I had forgotten my wallet, which created a stressful moment as I tried to figure out where I might have left it. When I shared this with Will, he asked if I was married, which I shared that I am unfortunately going through a divorce. He responded with genuine empathy, sharing that he had also gone through difficult times himself. He suggested ways we could work out payment, encouraged me not to worry, and allowed us to continue enjoying our meal while I sorted it out. That level of compassion, kindness, and understanding made a real difference. I was able to arrange payment over the phone, my daughters avoided what could have felt like an embarrassing moment, and by the end what could have been an awkward moment turned into a positive memorable experience. Great food is always appreciated, but great service is what people remember -- and Will absolutely made this visit stand out. Highly appreciated.

Not every review is written because of a bad experience--sometimes you write one because a place…read moretruly exceeds your expectations. That was definitely the case here. My husband and I were returning from a hiking weekend with our two doggies when we searched for a pet-friendly place to have lunch. Google suggested Farmhouse 78, and we are so glad it did. At first, I didn't notice the outdoor patio, so I went inside to ask. From the moment I walked through the door, every employee was incredibly friendly and welcoming. They made me feel valued as a customer and even offered to let us dine inside with our dogs. Out of respect for other guests, we chose to sit outside on their lovely patio. Everything about this place was wonderful--the cleanliness, the atmosphere, the service, and how quickly our food arrived. Most importantly, the food was absolutely delicious. My husband had the pork sandwich, and I ordered the cheeseburger with French fries. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and homemade. When I went inside to pay, I had the pleasure of meeting Cyndie at the register. I told her how impressed we were with our experience, and she was just as warm and friendly as everyone else we encountered. If you're visiting Santa Ysabel, do yourself a favor and stop by Farmhouse 78. Great food, wonderful people, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. We will definitely be back!

We had high hopes this place would improve... but nope. This was my second visit--and definitely my…read morelast. I even brought friends who had never been here before, thinking it could become one of our regular stops when we're out hitting the trails. Instead, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouth... and not just from the food. Waitress: Where do I even start. She claimed she was hard of hearing--but her attitude spoke loud and clear. Tossing menus on the table, aggressively slamming salsa down, and getting snarky over being off because our party count was off by one person. Seriously? It took two seconds to adjust the table, but apparently that was just too much. Yes, she technically did her job... but with such a cold, unwelcoming, and rigid attitude that it made the whole experience uncomfortable. What really stood out? We were there first and ready to order, yet she chose to take care of every smaller table that came in after us. No communication, no "I'll be right with you," nothing. Just ignored. Basic courtesy clearly isn't part of the service here. And trust me--I used to be a waitress. I handled large parties all the time and actually communicated with my tables. It's not that hard. Honestly, if gratuity hadn't already been forced onto the bill, she would've gotten $0. The only pleasant person we encountered was the busser--quick, friendly, and actually seemed like he wanted to be there. Maybe swap their roles, because he outperformed her by a mile. Food: Let's talk about the food... if that's what we're calling it. Everything came out cold. Not "warm-ish," not "could be hotter"... just straight up cold. It felt like our plates were sitting under a heat lamp for way too long before making it to the table. One "white" friend asked to have her meal fixed--fine, no problem. But when another "Hispanic" friend asked the same thing? Suddenly there was attitude, menu slamming, and mumbling under her breath. So... what exactly was the difference? Why the inconsistency and hostility? If the kitchen is that backed up, maybe management should step in and help instead of letting food die in the window. Just a thought. Final Thoughts: This place had potential... but that waitress single-handedly ruined it. We'll be taking our group (and our money) elsewhere--Dudley's Bakery is looking like a much better option moving forward. I usually bring large groups out here, so this isn't a small loss. Unfortunately, if this is the level of service they're okay with, this place isn't going to improve anytime soon. At this point, it's less "Farmhouse charm" and more "junky barn energy."

Arrived on Thursday around 5 PM to have a drink and view the sunset on the mountains, no bartender…read moreon site, had to go to the front desk. Bartender arrived ordered a round of drinks for the outside seating. I went to the outside counter to order next round, I had to get the bartenders attention then ordered, Jared served 2 more drinks, as I said thank you and started to walk away, he said "thanks drunk ass". I am 20% tipper. But not this time! We come to this area at least 2 times a year not coming back to this place, very sad Hope you hire better staff.

After checking out of the campground I decided to have some lunch before my drive out. This…read morerestaurant is conveniently located where check-in is taken place. The building also has a gift shop and bar. It is cozy throughout the building, specifically, a cabin feel. The staff at the counter were very helpful and patient. I ordered a kale salad with chicken. It was a hefty serving. I did ask for extra balsamic dressing at the time of my order and I'm glad I did since I had a lot of greens. Everything was fresh and the candied pecans added in were delicious and added a nice crunch to the salad. I ordered a side of sweet potato fries and they were perfecto! It was crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside. I enjoyed my lunch out on the patio deck facing north east. I had the view of the hills and got to watch people drive into or leave Borrego Springs. Some of the planks on the floors and side rails were starting to show their age or had been damaged. Overall, a great experience at the joint. I look forward to having another bite at the restaurant when I camp here again in 2025.