We were coming back from the apple farms and needed a good place to eat. We found this place and we are so glad we did! The food was delicious. The dumpling with gravy was so good and different, light and fluffy! Not at all what I was expecting. Cool old school diner/pub vibes. The best was the service. The server was taking care of the entire restaurant all on her own. She was running all over the place. You just don't see that type of hustle and pride in service anymore. I didn't catch her name, but she was incredible!!! She deserves a raise! My husband who ran restaurants was super impressed and we left her a nice tip as a thank you for her hard work!! read more

The recent changes to the interior and menu were made to hone in on their German theme - which is exactly what they've accomplished. The interior is perfect - comfortable, with the decor and music both fitting. The food was spectacular. Like a home cooked meal from people who value our shared European heritage. Portions were plentiful - flavor was light and just right - food well-prepared. All brought together by the owners Helen and her husband Bill (and other family in the kitchen) who bring this place together mit Leib und Seele. read more

Had my Birthday. party at the Forester and it was awesome....the wait staff was kind and the food outstanding.. Most has the fish and chips and so did I. Nice size portions...good quality. And done to perfection. Place had a country feel.... warm and friendly. Will be bring my book club back so they can enjoy too!,, Thank you for my party read more

We decided to stay in Pollock Pines overnight and the hotel managers recommended The Forester because of their variety. We had 3 kids with us, super finicky eaters. This place did not disappoint!! Oh good golly, homemade comfort food. The sauerkraut was grilled with beef...and the beef stroganoff was really really good. Gravy nice and rich, tons of beef and mushroom chunks and the spaetzle excellent! I wish the kids would eat food outside of their comfort zone so we could try the whole menu! Husband and kid really like the breaded pork chop. Bestie was grubbin over the mashed potatoes. Chicken soup and potato soups were fantastic. Dessert? Strawberry biscuit with homemade strawberry sauce, and a blackout chocolate cake. Everything was wonderful! Sorry, I've only got the one picture of my beef stroganoff.... We will definitely come back here whenever we are in the Apple Hill area. read more

The Forester - Beef stroganoff over homemade spaetzle, side of sauerkraut and roll. I finished 95% of the plate by myself! - German Near Me - Camino, California

Great burgers. Good quality meat. Friendly service too. Must try it! Lots of parking. Easy access from hwy 50. Indoors has been remodeled & looks great & comfortable.​ read more

Great ambience, phenomenal comfort food, fantastic service. Located in a rural little town which just adds to the mystique. What a gem!

The food is amazing and the service is top notch! I had the best dip with Anjou . The meat is tender and delicious and the Anjou has a great flavor. My husband got the beef stroganoff with sauerkraut. I love the sauerkraut so much that I stole some off his plate and added it to my sandwich. I recommend getting sauerkraut and putting it on the sandwich! It is so good. My daughter loves her grilled cheese with steak fries and we were more than satisfied! read more

The Forester - Beef dip - German Near Me - Camino, California

We eat at the Forester a 2 or 3 of times every summer. I always have gotten the Beef Stroganoff and loved it. But at our recent visit, it was quite different than it had been before, the sauce seemed mostly sour cream. I have always ordered the full size plate, because there has always been enough for lunch the next day. But the serving this time was only half the size of previous visits, although I was charged for a full portion. We have always loved the sauerkraut, but it was very mediocre this time, seemed to be ready-made sauerkraut with a couple of pieces of apples added. We were told they have the same chef as before, but sadly the food wasn't as good as before. read more

We had a fantastic dinner tonight! Someone randomly recommended this delicious restaurant. My other half got the goulash. It was so flavourful! the amount of Paprika used was perfect and the meat was tender. I got the cordon bleu. Absolutely scrumptious. Everything on the plate was delicious, the sauerkraut was probably the best I've ever had. Can't wait to go back and sample other things off the menu! HIGHLY reccommend. read more

First thing I have to say is, I've never had a pot roast beef dip sandwich before. Never even thought that you would try to do it any other way than with roast beef, but I never want to have it any other way again. So unique and flavorful. I was pretty blown away. The place can get noisy, especially when you have a table of eight big guys, but I didn't expect it to be a quite restaurant. The decor is quaint, and the staff were so pleasant that I wouldn't hesitate in trying it and other menu items again. My wife had the patty melt and it was another out of the ball park hit. Even the iced tea tasted real. What intrigues me is their German themed dinner menu. Will have to give it a try the next time we drive by heading to Placerville. read more

We haven't been for over a year now. They changed the menu and it's not very good. They no longer have a fryer so instead of fries they give you soggy potatoes . The burger was ok, but not really worth the rerun. They also changed hours, so if you want lunch, not here! read more

First time at Forester Pub and Grill. Stopped by just to check it out and pleasantly surprised how delicious the food is. The wife began with the navy bean soup which was very nice. The Hungarian Goulash & red cabbage was absolutely delicious and the pork in a mushroom gravy is so tender. We're finishing off with the warm apple strudel & ice cream that is equally delicious. The restaurant is cozy and relaxing with a cast iron stove going on this chilly night. In addition to tasty food & friendly staff, we were welcomed by the other diners who were very friendly, introducing themselves. Our first time here is unforgettable and we look forward to returning. read more

I just had the most lovely calamari steak at the Forester restaurant in Camino. The salad was lovely, the carrots were succulent and tender, I had it with spatula and it was so incredibly good! I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Absolutely love this place, have been going for lunch here for years. They recently changed their hours to dinner time only. Not sure when we'll get there next, sad to see weekend lunch hours end. read more

I wouldn't make a special trip, but if you are on the road and you want to stop before Sacramento, this is a perfectly solid option. I had the Jägerschniztel, which was nice and tender, and the mushroom gravy was just right. Good job with the rotkohl too, with apple and clove. I'm not real big on spetzl, but the wife quite liked it. She got the fish sandwich, and it was a nice portion of fish. The side salad wasn't noteworthy, nor were the garlic fries. Decent tap list. The Sudwerk Hef goes well with their German specialties. Additional treats on the menu that I'll try down the road are Chicken Cardon Bleu and Shepherd's Pie. read more

Came in with Mom. Never been here before but had many people recommend. It's in the opposite direction of where I normally drive so I forget The Forester can be an option for food. It was pretty busy for lunch when we arrived but no wait to get seated. Service was friendly. Shrimp cocktails were bomb. So good! Very fresh, no fishy taste. My schnitzel pork was fried well, no greasy taste or feel. Loved the gravy in the side and the red cabbage. I actually like their little pasta side that comes with it. I guess I just don't like my husband's version . Mom liked her fish and chips. Fries were very crispy which she raved about. We also ordered a side of mushrooms and finished those off right away. Would love to come back and bring the BD and kiddo. read more

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Little gem hidden in the mountains! If you're ever on the US50 and you crave some delicious no-nonsense food, this is the place to be on your way to/from Tahoe! We would recommend both the Jaegerschnitzel and the Wiener Schnitzel: delicious Mushroom gravy and sauerkraut for the Jaeger, white wine cream sauce and red cabbage for the Wiener! This place is worth more then the 5 stars! read more

New to the area and decided to try this place out. We absolutely loved our home made tasting dinners. Fast service and very attentive. Fun atmosphere made me feel like I was visiting Germany again. It's yummy!! read more

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This spot is so cool! Today was our first time going to The Forester. We brought the dog, and sat out on the back patio area. All staff were so friendly, helpful, and made us feel incredibly welcomed. The jaegerschnitzel is so good.. For dessert, they make their own strawberry dumplings, peach strudel and apple strudel. Delicious!!! They had so many things on the menu with a wide variety of options. Cannot wait to come back. read more

The staff is friendly and the food was delicious! They also have a kids menu with plenty of options. I had the King Buffalo burger with blue cheese and garlic fries . If you are on your way to Tahoe you should definitely make a stop here. They also offer outdoor seating and takeout. read more

The Forester - German Near Me - Camino, California

Nice place to get some tasty German food. Service is always friendly and prompt. Meals are huge!

I took my "bud" & his grandson here for his 94th Birthday. From the moment we walked in the door (greeted by the owner I believe) to the moment we left every single thing was superb! The food is German slanted & out of this world. The atmosphere was homey, like you were at a friend's home,wood burning fireplace & all. Bud had the sausage platter which he thoroughly enjoyed. Grandson had the chicken & dumplings & Bavarian meatball soup-which he said was extremely good. Now to me- I had the 2sirloin steaks perfectly med/rare, spatzel w/gravy (to die for) & red cabbage another delish dish. At the end we ordered strudel w/whipping cream to take home but our server "Lorraine" & owner brought out my friends w/candle & sang happy birthday . There is no way we could have enjoyed ourselves more. Thank you Foresters Pub & Grill. read more

Doesn't look like much when you drive by, but I am glad I discovered Forester's. This is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall. Spacious interior, rustic, and friendly service, Forester's serves one of the best Creamy Chicken Spatzles I've ever had. Comes with red cabbage, gravy, and a killer French onion soup, Forester's will be on my list of places to return the next time I am on the way to Tahoe. read more

Growing up with Grandparents that were born in Germany, I was blessed with the opportunity to experience authentic flavorful German cuisine! Every Sunday, we would have a sit-down dinner filled with German foods including rich gravys, moist meats & my favorite, dumplings! My love for Forester is real. Forester brought me back to my childhood, eating homemade Sunday German meals with my Grandparents. This Mom/Pop restaurant is truly a hidden gym, right outside of Placerville. This will be our regular stop when we make our trips to & from Tahoe! The restaurant is very home-y and fills up quickly with regulars from the neighborhood. We enjoyed our Sunday lunch right at opening (11am). Within 45 minutes, the restaurant & bar was filled with regulars! #1 reason to visit - the food!!! The food is absolutely delicious, rich, flavorful and really makes me feel at home. I highly recommend the soups, they are homemade!! I had the pleasure of enjoying the clam chowder & tasting the cream of asparagus (sounds weird, but it was delicious). Pork goulash - 10/10!! Get the spatzle! Highly recommended!! The little dough bites of pasta are divine and soak up the gravy perfectly. Jaegershnitzle - 10/10!! The pork was so tender and the gravy was delicious. Lick your lips and all 10 fingers delicious. All the other entrees my friends ordered were delicious as well. I would stay away from the sandwiches and go with the main traditional courses :) **DUMPLING TIP = I am used to having the more dense, breaded with bacon bits type of dumpling. I was expecting this, but Forester servces a different type of dumpling. Still delicious, but check out the picture. It is a softer, more crumbly type of dumpling that is served with a light gravy. read more

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Lovvvvve having great German food, right here in Apple Hill!! Spatzele, braised red cabbage, saurbraten and gravy...so good!

Food and service are wonderful. Great little place in the foothills to get away and enjoy a great meals

Loved the "lodge" atmosphere. Salad was fresh and crispy and calm chowder had lots of clans. I had the pot roast and husband had meatloaf. Both quite delicious. I'd definitely return. Service was really good too. August 2020 - just want to give these folks a review update as I have eaten here 3 times since my last review. This place is solid guys. Really really good and fresh comfort food, done flavorful and abundant. I just finished last night's leftovers. We really love this place, and even during COVID we've enjoyed wonderful meals and service at their outdoor seating. The last two times we've been there has been a good jazz band playing out back. Great service, cool owners, delicious food. Do yourself a favor and give this place a visit. read more

Camino hometown eatery includes bar too. Just had fish and chips and Celery Soup last night. Yum yum Served with a smile too!

Excellent "real home-made" food. Each meal has all the side dishes included with the main dish! The inside dining rooms are cozy; like your at someone's home. Working staff are sincere, pleasant and greet you both arriving and leaving. They also removed all their deep fried food so much healthier selection! read more

Been here a few times.. service was good and the food was ok.. The place is a bit run down and does need some TLC or updates, imo

Been here often. Great service, delicious food and a beautiful setting. Highly recommended

No longer open for lunch, but the most excellent food is well with the wait! German cuisine shines at this friendly family owned place.

My husband & I went here for dinner a few weeks back and it was one of the most delicious meals we'd had in a long time. Our waiter was Brandon. Best waiter ever! (give this man a raise!! He's definitely an asset to your restaurant!) Brandon was friendly, attentive and had wonderful suggestions. Everything was great that evening. I ordered the seafood platter- yum! Hubby ordered the jagersnitzle (I'm sure I spelled that wrong oops lol) Brandon helped my hubby pair a great IPA with his meal. I give this visit 5 STARS!! I took my friend there for lunch a week later. Our waitress was a young pretty blonde girl. I ordered the tacos. 1 chicken, 1 cod & 1 steak. The corn tortillas were so hard that I could not fold into a taco shape, just a tostada. Chicken was ok. Cod was ok. I asked for cheese but was unaware that they just put a whole slice of regular American cheese on top of each taco. Huh? Steak was a nasty pile of gristle. My friend had a burger & said it was good. We ordered desssert to go and got home & it was the wrong desserts. Bummed out. Probably just a bad day so I'll try again sometime in the future. read more

The Forester - German Near Me - Camino, California

Walked in during business hours, stood there for a good 5-10 minutes. There were people eating there but I was never approached by a server or given any direction. Left because I was a hungry paying customer, but they made it impossible to actually sit down and eat. read more

What a disappointment. We always loved this restaurant but since it has a new chef, owner, or whatever it just lacks flavor. I tried the daily soup and it was listed as butternut squash with chicken. When it arrived it looked like gravy and yep it tasted like thick leftover gravy with some butternut squash squares in it. At least it had salt. The schnitzel was ok but the sauces are not what they were. We loved that the sauces always had the perfect amount of wine and seasoning. Everything was so bland. No flavor to the breading, no flavor to some weird white sauce that looked and tasted like chalk. I'm sorry but we probably won't be back. read more

Great food with big portions in a great little place. The service was on point and prices were reasonable. Would definitely be back if in the area again. read more

This was a new discovery for us and we are so happy about it! We stopped in before heading to Apple Hill for the day and had a group of 4. Our server was great, very personable and attentive. The food portions are huge! I'm a vegetarian and they had an eggplant sandwich that I ordered and thoroughly enjoyed. They also had a really great beer and wine selection, of course! The others that went truly enjoyed their meals as well! We'll be back! read more

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Bit of a drive from us but we always try to go if we're by the Apple Hill area. We always get to-go and bring it to a winery. Love there schnitzels, chicken in cream sauce and red cabbage. My husband loves the goulash. Portions are huge. Fair for the price. Haven't tried dining in yet but inside seems clean and nice. read more

So there's very limited options in the Camino /Placerville areas for excellent food, but I will say that if you are OK getting basic diner food, nothing fancy just typical comfort food, I think you would do well going to the Forester. Their prices reflect a higher end establishment, they do have a certain edge above the competition because they are one of the only restaurants in the little downtown Camino area, it's a five minute drive from my house so it's definitely convenient. I got an avocado cheeseburger with bacon, everything was good, fresh ingredients and such. The french fries seemed to be previously frozen, but were thick cut fries, I can't say the material on the booths was very clean or the carpet, but the place wasn't a mess if that makes sense. I wouldn't come here on a date or to impress anybody, but if you've had a long day and you were just looking for a good, hot meal? Worth a shot read more

We just moved back to Camino after moving down the hill for the last 10 years (Cameron Park). We had been moving all day and we were tired. My daughter said the Fish and Chips were really good so we headed over. The waitress was so sweet, the food was excellent. I highly recommend!! read more