If you're heading up into the Sierra's from LA, stop here for a really yummy lunch. Vegetarian friendly. We had: Potato leek soup Brie sandwich with fries Vegetarian sandwich Delicious! The atmosphere is so chill, lots of artwork on the walls and the original wood floor is charming. read more

Food is good but the price and service are lacking. We were on our way back from Mammoth to L.A., and called our order in 40 minutes before driving through the town of Independence. However, we still had to wait for 20 minutes after we arrived to eat our food. It should not take an hour to make a salad and vegetarian pasta. Also it was overpriced for what it was. Might be the most interesting restaurant between L.A. and Mammoth, but that is not saying too much. read more

Terrible service waited over and hour for bread even longer for the food and all we ordered were salads

Nice little spot for burgers and quick bite. There is a baby and a dog there.. what more could you ask for to bring a smile to your face!

We had lunch there this past weekend. We were the only customers in the place at the time. The experience was so bad, at least it provided some comedic relief. The place smells like cigarette smoke, likely due to the owner or person working there smoking in the kitchen. Awesome. And yes, there is a dog who comes to sniff your feet. I did not see a health rating (the sign in the window), but I doubt it's an A. The menus were old, full of ballpoint corrections. We asked a question - what's the supreme burger? - and were told: "It's in the menu, no?" And then the guy walked away. Needless to say, it wasn't in the menu, but it sure shut us up. We ordered 3 lunches and got 2. Yes, 1 person did not get their food and the guy just walks away without saying a word. 10 minutes later that person gets their burger. 'Oops' was the excuse. One person asked for some ranch with their burger, and the response was a simple 'No'. Cool. We did get ketchup, in a Heinz bottle that was several years old, with fading labels and obviously refilled with some generic product. The bill finally came and had no totals on it. We went back in the kitchen several times to find the waiter / owner / guy running the place. How anyone gets a 5 star experience here is beyond me. The food was expensive and mediocre, the service a total joke. It's the only place open in town, so I suggest you drive through to the next town, or stop in Lonepine. read more

This is not a complaint just be aware this is euro style dining experience. There is one cook in the kitchen, so be patient enjoy the experience. Very good food. read more

Still Life Cafe - Steak Frites - Specialty Food Near Me - Independence, California

Don't even think about dining there! Why? Just read on and see what happened to us this Saturday night: - The waitress told us there was only one chef in the kitchen, so it might take a little bit longer for the food to be served. Since there were only about 10 other people ahead of us (we: group of 5) we agreed and stayed. In the end, we waited for 2 hours until we got our food. None of the dished on the menu seemed really time-consuming to prepare, so we don't really understand why it took so long. - One waiter, who only seemed to be in charge for bringing out food, serving drinks and handing out the checks didn't check on us once within the 2 hours we were there. We had to go to the bar ourselves to order some more drinks and even than he served us the beer with no glasses (he forgot the glasses on the counter, I bet they are still there!) - The orange juice one of us ordered wasn't good any more. The color was grey, not yellow and I even don't want to describe the horrible taste! - The water was pure tap water and tasted like soil. - The goat cheese salad, which cost about $15 was made out of two handful of lettuce, a few slices of tomatoes, even fewer slices of cucumbers, olives (which were not mentioned on the menu) and two tiny roasted slices of bread (2 inches in diameter), covered with two tiny slices of goat cheese. Totally overpriced!!!! - The salmon burger with sweet potato fries, which was one of the specials of the day, was the worst dish I have ever seen being served: The salmon was pressed in a round disc, about 3 inch in diameter and 0.2 inch high. It had parallel black burned lines on both sides from where is was lying on the grill for way too long. It tasted bitter and sour, so it was rotten, which could have been very dangerous if we would have eaten it (which we didn't!). The sweet potato fries were drowned in fat, but tasted raw at the same time - totally disgusting! - After four of us got their dinner after waiting for two hours, one friend still waited for his burger. We than saw the light being switched off in the kitchen, so we went to the waiter to ask him about the remaining burger. He apologized and told us that this burger was only on the lunch menu and would not be served for dinner (which they didn't tell us when we ordered the food 2 hours before or while we were waiting for the food). Also the kitchen was closed, because the chef had already left and they couldn't prepare anything else now. Well, that was a total lie, since the burger was on the dinner menu (we only got the dinner menu and never saw a lunch menu anywhere) and the chef was still in the restaurant talking to other customers when we left. - There were some Tintin-comics lying around for the guests to look at while waiting. But when we touched them, they were sticky and dirty - gross! - The one and only chef, who was preparing food (with the help of one waitress) was out of the kitchen a lot, talking to some customers, that seemed to be friends of her. She didn't seem to be stressed at all although there were still a lot of people waiting for their food. This might be nice for the couple she talked to, but very impolite to all the other guests, which were still hungry. In the end our friend, who was still hungry, went across the street to Subway. They were about to close but opened up for him again, when he explained the situation. The lady was soooooo friendly and served him a very good sandwich. If you get hungry in Independence, go to Subway! The food there is fresh and tasty, the people are super friendly! Later we were told by locals, that the Still Life Café had a very good (and fast) chef until a year ago, and back than the food and atmosphere were excellent. Now, it is as we experienced it: slow, inattentive and understaffed waiters (two last Saturday night, but one had to help out the chef in the kitchen) and poor quality/rotten, overpriced food, prepared by one slow chef. I can only repeat myself: Don't go there!!! You, your patience and your health will regret it!!! Normally I am not picky when it comes to food and I don't complain about waiting a little bit longer for food to be served if the restaurant is full, everyone is doing their very best and the quality of the food is right. But for the Still Life Café, I would give an overall rating of 0 stars if that would be possible! read more

Call ahead to see if they are open. The place is owned and operated by an older couple who cook amazing food but sometimes the operating hours on Yelp are more of a suggestion than a hard rule. However you won't be disappointed with the freshly made high quality food and relaxed atmosphere. Those of you who have been to Europe and enjoy not being rushed through a meal will appreciate the owners who are French who aren't rushing you to eat and leave like Americans are used to restaurants doing. I highly recommend a stop here for lunch or dinner. read more

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Hands down, the best meal we've had since France in 2007. I had braised endive with ham in a bechamel gratine. Honestly, it was a thrilling combination of flavors and textures...rich without being overwhelming. My husband had flank steak in a shallot red wine sauce, with layered potatoes and garlic green beans. It was a beautiful and delicious plate. My mother had the onion soup, which was good, but not as fabulous as the rest of the meals. Service is relaxed and friendly. The array of art work on the walls is fascinating and the dining room is comfortable and inviting. Extensive road work on the 395 makes a stop look daunting right now, but there is ample parking on side streets, and this stop is well worth it. read more

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Just had an excellent lunch in Independence. If you blink you might miss it. I'm so glad I made my boyfriend drive around town for one last sweep. We almost ended up at Subway because nothing is open... except this wonderful place popped out of thin air. If I had been out hiking all day I might have suspected a mirage. I had a great sandwich called Croquet Madame. It was grilled on white bread with ham, cheese (I think it was gruyere), bechamel sauce and a fried egg on top. If you don't like egg then order the Monsieur. Sounds simple but the mix of the salty ham and the sauce really makes the sandwich. Choice of salad with vinaigrette of fries, I opted for the salad but then ordered a side of fries at the last minute. The salad was a really nice salad with tomato slices, cucumber, a little bit of red bell pepper, and calamata olives. The greens were very fresh. The fries are decent too. Nicely seasoned. My boyfriend ordered a burger and it was juicy and fresh with all the regular fixings. The beer was not cold due to a fridge failure that was being fixed while we were there but the waiter was nice enough to place a bottle in the ice so my boyfriend could have a cold one. The price was a little high for lunch but not too bad considering the area or the fact that they are undoubtedly the best game in town. Spent a little over $35 including tip. Dinner specials on the board ranged in price from $17 to $23 a plate but seemed like excellent choices. I would definitely try dinner there as well. Ambiance was nice. Old building with wood floors and ceiling. Cozy atmosphere with booth backed walls and chair tables. Eclectic decor including historic and current local photos and some interesting water colors for sale. The only thing negative I have to say is that they need a bigger, much bigger sign so that people know they are their and stop by to keep them in business. read more

So glad we pulled over on the way home from Mammoth to check it out. Charming little cafe. Authentic French bistro menu and great ambiance. Will definitely come back. Our 7 year old even picked up a brief history lesson on Franco-Belgian comics known as Bande dessinée from the proprietor. read more

Definitely a stop on your way back to the hustle and bustle of SoCal! Life at a slower pace is a welcome change. The wait time isn't as bad as claimed on other less stellar reviews. This place deserves 5+ stars read more

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The food and the owners-staff are wonderful! Also the beer and wine. Perfect. We went during Covid, so our orders were takeout. The proprietors were unbelievably accommodating. The grilled vegetable panini, cheeseburger, and strawberry crepe were so delicious and fueled us up to Mt. Whitney. When we came out of the mountains on a Sunday night, we called to confirm they were open and placed our order. The food was just as good as we remembered. The only other thing you need to know is that this is not fast food. Order at least 30 mins in advance. It's worth it. read more

Gorgeous food - just awesome! We stopped in Independance for the day - this is the only place for GOOD food and drink, nestled between the Sierra's and the Inyo mountains. Stunning place - great food! Owners are sweet - French - great sense of humor. We love it here. Come when you are ready to enjoy your time and your food. read more

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Best burger I've ever eaten anywhere on the 395. The Stilton burger was fantastic and the Brie sandwich was fine. The salad was fresh and tasty, the fries were crisp, well-seasoned and tasty. I can see what some of the negative reviewers are talking about with respect to what was perceived as slow, inattentive service. You will probably not get the super quick service of a fast food restaurant or the super-obsequious service you might find in some 'serious' "fine dining" establishments. Luckily, there is a Subway in the Chevron station across the street if you are in a hurry and you can get plenty of obsequious service in some of the nicer places in Mammoth or on the West Side of LA when you get home, You are in Independence. You are on the way home from or going to skiing/fishing/camping/hiking/sight-seeing in the Sierras. Relax and enjoy the meal and the fun decor and leave your expectations at home. As for the reviewer who complained about not being able to catch the waiter/owner's attention with eye contact - how about speaking up politely. We actually talked to him and he was very nice and serious about providing a good meal. Give him a break. read more

Found this place on the way back from camping in the Eastern Sierras. It's a cute little place with paintings and pictures all over the walls. We had fun looking at all the artwork. It has a French slant on its food. I had the grilled ham and cheese with an egg on top. It was very good. It came with good french fries, cooked crisp and hot like I like them. We had a group of four and everyone liked their meal - don't remember what others got. There were only a few people in the restaurant besides us and the service was fine. They play really good jazz for background music. Its one of two restaurants in town. It is somewhat expensive; a pasta meal was $19. I did not try it though, so maybe it was worth the money. However, there are items on the menu that are reasonable. I liked the place and will go back next time I'm up there. read more

Beautiful calm atmosphere at this quaint little cafe with family waiting staff... place is run by a very nice french couple 'food is unbelievable' however, since everything is prepared "fresh" be ready to wait for your food but I assure you that its worth the wait!! read more

Truly a unique and eclectic dining experience. The ingredients were fresh and tasty. The bread was delicious. The prices were reasonable. Highly suggest a stop if you are in the area. Make sure to get menu recommendations from Valentine. We will be back! read more

It's good food, run by a nice family and probably the best and only place to eat dinner in Independence. Don't let that lack of choices take away from the meal, it's genuinely a good solid meal, good salads, pastas and awesome bread. And a decent beer selection. The family running the place were very kind and the music selection was good. read more

I have never experienced such a rude and unfriendly service at a French restaurant (not even in France!)... AND EXPENSIVE! There is no relation between the quality (poor) of the food, the service and the price. Prices are like at a restaurant with white tablecloths and fabric napkins instead of cheap PAPER covers. I have never had a waiter telling me the way I should drink my coffee or that "my way" is the wrong one. Too bad we didn't go to Subway across the street! So if you ever plan to eat in Independence, CA, please go elsewhere. read more

After Death Valley and the samey food on our way to Mono Lake we stopped and had salmon burgers, salad, wine and coffee at this quaint, quiet respite. read more

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Quirky little French cafe that's worth the stop if they're open. Service is "relaxed" so depending on how busy they are you need to be patient. That's the only reason I don't give them five stars. Food is great and not what you expect in a small town like this. Call ahead to make sure they're open. read more

Expectations were high, on the basis of Yelp reviews, but we caught on what I think was an off night -- a Sunday night. A number of things were unavailable, like the short ribs and the flank steak. The burger I ordered was good but nothing spectacular, and the pasta Bolognese that she ordered was also good,but nothing spectacular. Service was good, and the dog named Carlos is charming and kind, but I think we were hoping for more. We'll give it another go, though. read more

Make sure to stop here for lunch or dinner on your way to Mammoth. Amazing food, everything is made to order so be patient, it's worth the wait! read more

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Charming, quaint stop if you're looking for an escape from all of the nearby fast food joints that don't really seem to fit into the area. This is just what we needed to kick off our getaway from LA. The servers were friendly, and while the lunch menu isn't the largest, the food was much better than the alternatives. Especially the fries! :) read more

I love the food, it is priced right, and this place is an absolute godsend, when you are looking for culture and good food in the middle of a cold, wet camping trip! It is well worth the wait, as all of the food is home cooked..... and delicious! read more

Came here for my birthday dinner, which also happens to be valentine's day. Had little hope of being able to get a table, but they were able to take our party of 7 with only a few hours notice. What luck! They had a guitarist who was playing songs and singing, setting the mood, and a special valentine's day menu. The wait for food was long, but it was nice to have the time to enjoy our wine and bread conversation, plus when the main courses came out, definitely worth the wait. Rabbit and pappardelle an unbelievably decadent mustard sauce, beef bourguignon with a generous marrow bone, baby back ribs in a tequila, lime, and chili sauce were the highlights of the meal. The place is adorable, and the family is really warm and sweet. If you ever find yourself in Independence and you have time to relax, do yourself a solid and get a meal here. read more

Little charming place, with the greatest greeter in town "Carlos " a little sweet dog, check for the day specials. They're perfect portions for a fair price, jazzy ambiance with a picture galleria of local landscapes that are for sale, we also met a young hiker from Ohio doing the Pacific Crest trail on his 2650 mile journey. We had a great experience, we will be back read more

Still Life Cafe - Carlos the Cafe greeter - Specialty Food Near Me - Independence, California

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We had a great meal from Still Life Cafe. Not alot of activity in Independence, so to get a delicious french meal was a treat.

Heads up.. Call before you go there. The hours listed in the yelp page are not accurate. We rode our bikes from a far distance to have lunch there only to find out that they didn't open until 4:30 that day. Very disappointing!!!!! read more

A surprise gem in Independence! Beer on tap, French and American food, fun atmosphere! I had a salad and my friends had burgers they loved. The fries were worth stealing! read more

Teriffic meal at a wonderful location. The wife and I had two of the specials. Both where amazing! The service is super friendly and very attentive. All wrapped in a historic building, with amazing charm. Thank you! read more

Still Life Cafe - Specialty Food Near Me - Independence, California

This place is something special. DO come here if you want great French food and an enjoyable "European" atmosphere. Do NOT come here if you are in a rush, demand service, or are in any way uptight. Plan on spending at least an hour, letting the French waiter do his thing, while the cook in the back prepares a wonderful meal, and who may even come out for a conversation. This place lives up to its name. Life goes pretty slowly here... and the French onion soup alone is worth making it stop. read more

Still Life Cafe - French onion soup - Specialty Food Near Me - Independence, California

Even if you're in the Lonepine area which is several quality restaurants, you have to drive to the still life to see the real veal shank. There is a very surprising Wine West and you just can't do any better in this stretch of 395! read more

What a delightful and delicious surprise! The food was first rate - I think it was all made when I ordered it (instead of heated up) - and the vibe in the cafe was very homey and relaxing. I ordered the Pasta Primavera, which came to me with roasted vegetables, a sumptuous and simple olive oil and garlic sauce, and fresh made penne. They gave me so much that I was able to take some home for dinner that night. If you are in a hurry, you might want to mention that to the very pleasant and patient waitress. I am sure they will accommodate anyone with a rush, but this cafe is best for people who aren't in a rush and want to enjoy the wonderful food, maybe some wine or beer, and take time to pet the extremely friendly dog (I think his name is Carlos). If you are driving on Highway 14, be sure to plan your trip to include a leisurely 2 hour dinner or lunch at this cafe - you will be glad you did! read more

Wow, what a scrumptous surprise my wife Isabel and I had on our side trip to Independence, CA while camping in Lone Pine. This was the third day of our camping and fishing trip in the Eastern Sierras. We decided to do some sight seeing in the area and drove up to Independence. In town, we visited the Eastern Sierra Museum, where there is a fabulous display of Native American baskets along with the facinating history of how the City of Angels (LA) stole the water from the Owens Valley and a insightful display of artifacts from Manzanar. We wondered through the garden that led to a creek, then went up to the outdoor display of old equipment and buildings. Took quite a bit of time taking photos and enjoying this visual history lesson. Needless to say we got hungry. We didn't have a destination in mind but knew we didn't want fast food. Then we accidently happened upon the Still Life Cafe. It looked quaint, cool and inviting, but we had no idea what a gastronomic surprise we would encounter. As the previous reviews mentioned, the ambiance inside was refreshing with watercolors, posters and photos covering the walls. I wondered onto the outdoor patio to chat with the owner about the work they were doing to improve that area. We took our time and continued to gaze at the art on the wall. Then we decided to sit at a table and place our order. Isabel chose a burger with Stilton Cheese and Fries and I decided on the Pate sandwich w/ salad and a Bass ale. Well, the food came out, however, I was informed that there was no Pate so the chef subsituted foie gras -- goose liver. The presentation was outstanding but the foie gras was to die for.... Isabel's burger was huge, cooked to perfection and the cheese was delightful. The baguette was crispy and fresh, the herbs in the foie gras delighted my taste buds, the salad dressing was a perfect blend. To add to the ambience a lovely sleek cat wondered into the dining area, the whole affair was quite memorable. After lunch we chatted with the owners and I was invited into the kitchen to meet the chef/wife of this grand couple. The chef is a Berber and when I asked why there was no lamb on the menu she told me there is no demand for it in town. This hospitable couple also told us if we wanted a special meal of her native food to call in advance and she would prepare the meal for us. It was time to leave, and we petted the cat, which was lounging on the chaise near the door,on the way out. It is rare to find such a homelike atmosphere with great service, fabulous food choices, and friendly conversation. We know we will be back when our travels take us to the Eastern Sierras again. read more

The atmosphere is great. Mom and daughter seem to be the entire crew. The dog "Carlos" is the best. The food was good but I would come back to visit Carlos. read more

I went with a group of 8 others; I think we put some strain on the kitchen and I attempted to subtly convey this to them. The majority of us didn't even order anything French, a bit rude I thought. I asked the waitress what was good, and she said the lamb shank. I pointed out the specials to everyone, which sounded amazing; no one bit. The interior is a wonderful mix of jazz, impressionist artwork, photographs, and desert landscapes. Frankly, I was a little embarrassed by *our* group. I felt it was clear: - try to use french if you know it. At least make an attempt to pronounce the words on the menu correctly. If the waitress corrects you, do your best to say "Croque Madame" correctly. -Be nice, not snippy. never snippy, but get to the point. -Understand that french service is "we leave you alone to enjoy yourselves and your company" -DON'T ORDER SPECIALTY ITEMS. When our vegetarian friends ordered what was essentially bread with cheese and tomatoes those were the items that came out after nearly everyone finished. I couldn't laugh at the time, but the joke (to me) was obvious. On a similar note, my escargot came out quickly. My lamb shank (quite good!) came out first, and any order that basically wasn't french? Took forever. One gets the feeling they might be trying to say something akin to: Eat good food here, not american scarf-chow. ALSO... you're going to wait. That's how the French dine. This is not an in-and-out-in-30-minutes affair. The 2.5 hours we spent (expected in france) I loved. Bottle of Cotes du Rhone, snails, and a chance to actually socialize over a meal. What a concept! Others in our group seemed impatient. They're used to LA: wham bam thank you pay-a-huge-bill-for-slightly-underwhelming-food-ma'am. In short, go here. Relax. Realize there are other modes of enjoying life than zoomy tweaked-out-but-I'm-so-busy LA. Have some otium cum dignitae and relax into the moment. The Still Life Cafe is designed to do that (not just letting you sit in a restaurant for an extra hour after the meal is over); you just have to understand, observe, and allow it to happen. read more

What happens when French speaking people move to an old western town and build a cafe on the 395? They start making the best burgers you'll find north of LA. (Yes, that includes SF). Don't let the small town fool you this place is as good as it gets in the high country. A bit pricey but cheaper than most places in Mammoth. By the way, if you ski or snowboard and you still eat at Schat's Bakery in Bishop every trip you will kick your own ass for not eating here all this time. (But maybe you like waiting in line) read more

BEWARE! Do not stop here as you're driving through independence. I was fooled by reviews that led me to believe that this place was a good place to stop for good eats. I love french onion soup, this was not very good, and I ordered the $12 large portion and it came in half a bowl. Rewind though, we walked in and we immediately were overwhelmed by the smell of cigarettes. The owners dog Carlos was walking around and found himself lying on top of my feet. Our rolls took 15 mins to come out. I then looked down and saw that Carlos had thrown up under the table right next to me. I was horrified. I told the owner and he moved us across the room and only put a paper towel on top and left it. 40 mins after arriving the soup was delivered. I ordered a sandwich to split w my boyfriend to have with our soup but the sandwich came 20 mins after our soup arrived. The croque monsuier was yummy, but for the price they could've used other bread besides wonder white bread. Do not order the fries because they are worse than frozen McDonald's fries. The owner was rude, weird and lazy by not cleaning up after his dog. The entire time we were there we were jokingly questioning whether we were dead because it felt so surreal and like a twilight zone. For 3 soups and a sandwich it was near $70. Do not stop here! read more

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