On a cold Friday night in the middle of Apple Hill was this boisterous packed restaurant. We called ahead and made reservations. Even though its cold they have outdoor seating with heaters. The place was pavked. We started with drinks at the bar. Had yhe Naked and famous very smokey and strong with Mezcal and was perfection. Their cadillac Margarita is no joke and was well served and tasty. We then moved to our outdoor table and had the calamari, and the prawns. Every thing was delicious and served in a timely manner. Our server very attentive and nice. We had the salmon, filet mignon. The mashed potatoes decadent and creamy the broccolini cooked perfectly and we paired witj a glass of red wine. The drinks are more on the pricey side but served well. We had a great time and enjoyed every bite. A local favorite. Parking is a little difficult during peak hours. read more

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Nice find. Live in EDH. Went to Placerville to get out of the recent fog and cold. Have heard and read about The Independent and eateries in the area. This choice did not disappoint. The seating was well protected from elements. Heaters throughout. Got to idea that pets were not allowed in the tent were the fireplace is. Although our area had plants and decorations for the holidays. Made reservations day before for patio seating with our dog. Seated immediately. Service was a little slow one both beginning and end. That was okay at the beginning because we chatted with other pet owners and enjoyed our cocktails. After plates where removed our server did return. Had to go inside to settle tab. Food was delicious. I had the ban mi. Great flavors and wonderful fresh sliced jalapeños. Other plate as chipotle grilled cheese with caramelized onions. Turnip fries......have never had. Though love them in roasts. As fries....the BOMB. Cocktail. Had the slow burn. Sounded good being cold. Did not disappoint. The rums and the nutmeg warm the cocktails and myself. Very pleasing. Three stars because of today's service. read more

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What a find. Right on Main Street with a great atmosphere. The space feels classy without being quiet and they had a great playlist. Everyone was friendly and the patio was warm and comfortable with plenty of heaters. The food was a mix of traditional and creative and everything we tried was excellent. The cocktails were both familiar and unique and every drink was great. Our server Trevor was attentive and made the whole visit a pleasure. The manager or owner even checked in to make sure we were having a good night. This restaurant really impressed me and I highly recommend it! read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - Espresso Martini - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

One of the only places in town that knows how to cook a piece of meat and make a Long Island iced tea correctly.

Went here for dinner with a group of 12. Food and service was exceptional. They have indoor and outdoor seating available. We sat inside. Great food and wine options. We started off with a salad which was good, not over powering with dressing. Ahi tower was yum perfectly seasoned. Main dish we shared the Hawaiian ahi crust which was a deconstructed sushi on a plate. Concept was good and did not disappoint. Portion of meat vs sushi rice was good. Dessert bread pudding was yummy. Warm and not very sweet. Our server was awesome and fun. He had great recommendations on food and drinks. read more

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First time dinner visit, freindly staff and the food was tasty, fresh salad Nice ambiance, will come back again.. read more

Excellent house burger! I had the turnip fries, which were also very tasty. Both the interior and patio, where I sat, were very nice.

this is my second time at the independent, and i will say that i love that they use fresh and local produce, and high quality meat and fish. it totally enhances the dining experience! so lets get into the details: FOOD if you're an app person, HIGHLY recommend the summer caprese salad. i believe it's seasonal, but wow.. those tomatoes were SO sweet with the perfect texture. i could've had a plate of those alone. the mozzarella with the fresh basil and maldon sea salt, topped with 12 year aged balsamic?! if your mouth isn't watering reading that, go ahead and read it again the caesar had the most amazing homemade croutons & the garlic chips are out of this world. the only reason i gave 4 stars is because my salmon was overcooked; it was pretty dry and $45, that's really unfortunate the steak was cooked perfect and the mashed potatoes were absolutely divine! SERVICE Jake was our server and took excellent care of us. everyone made sure our waters were never empty, and made sure we were all set throughout the night! SEATING lots of indoor and outdoor seating. great for small intimate couples or large parties! the outside seating area is pretty large, and was perfect for our evening. PARKING there's a small lot adjacent to the restaurant but plenty of street parking and a big lot nearby! overall, we'll absolutely be back, and crossing our fingers (& toes!) that the caprese is still around! read more

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Went for dinner with friends and thoroughly enjoyed everything we ordered. I ordered a burger with sweet potato fries and a Paloma. Delicious food and great service. read more

Wednesday, August 28, 2024 After spending the morning at Apple Hill, we decided to stop in Placerville for a late lunch. We didn't really have a restaurant in mind, so we drove along Main Street. We spotted The Independent restaurant, and a memory of a good meal there in the past prompted us to stop. The small parking lot was full, but we were able to snag a parking spot directing in front of the restaurant. We arrived around 2:00, so most of the lunch crowd was gone. We were seated right away. Water was immediately delivered to our table, and then our server appeared to ask us if we wanted anything else to drink. We had just done a bit of wine tasting, so we skipped the cocktails this time, although the drink menu was intriguing. Next time, maybe... My husband and I ordered the cup of soup, which was a delicious potato and corn chowder. I also ordered the Pacific Salmon w/Balsamic Glaze, Herb Confit Marble Potatoes and Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables, which I split with my husband. I told him I was very hungry and wasn't sure I wanted to share, but when the plate came, there was plenty of food for the both of us. (We tend to eat lighter meals now.) The salmon was perfectly cooked, and the potatoes and sautéed broccoli were nice sides. Service was excellent, the ambiance is cozy and comfortable. It was a nice stop after a morning apples and wine. read more

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When my wife and I are on the road the restaurants we choose are a key part of our stays. Placerville is one of the jump off points for the infamous Rubicon Trail and we picked in large part due to the great restaurants available to us. Our dinner before embarking on our adventure was at The Independent and we loved every minute of it. No cocktails or wine due to the early start the next day so our focus was purely on the food. We started with a shared salad, called the Summer Caprese. "Local Ray Yeung Heirloom Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata Pesto, Garden Basil, Local Field Greens, Herb Vinaigrette, Maldon Sea Salt" and it was a great way to begin our meal. The tomatoes tasted like they must have been picked that day and delivered to the restaurant, as they were so fresh, juicy and sweet. The rest of salad was just as delicious and we were both sad to eat that last bite. However when the entrees arrived we returned to a state of bliss as we each devoured our choices. We both went with fish that night with my wife choosing pacific salmon which was grilled and served with a balsamic glaze and a side of herb confit marble potatoes and sautéed seasonal vegetables. So many restaurants overcook salmon, but this was done just right, warmed through but still somewhat translucent in the center with an incredible crust which delivered a crunch with every bite. The herbed potatoes were also very flavorful as were the vegetables. The balsamic glaze included capers cooked with lemons which just added a pop to every bite. I went with one of nights specials, ahi tuna served over a bed of orzo with broccolini and grilled polenta cheese . The tuna was raw in the middle with slightly seared edges and the the accompanying sides were equally as good. We sat outside which I would highly recommend. Very sweet patio setting with a fire in the fireplace and two two wall fountains. My only complaint was regarding the service. Our waiter, Jake was fantastic, really fun to talk to and he made you feel like you were the only customer in the place. But the bussing was annoying. We had barely put our forks on our plates after the last bite of salad and they were being whisked away. The same was true with our dinner plates and it made us feel a bit like we were being rushed out the door. Notwithstanding that fact we will be back the next time we are in this beautiful little town. read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - Summer Caprese - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

A fantastic El Dorado County staple! Consistently welcoming & friendly staff (Tyrel, Jake, Jeff, the whole crew) reliably warm ambiance (the bar area can get noisy but that's bars for you) and always delicious food. Yes, it's a bit pricey but isn't everything these days? The owner is always onsite and you can see the fruits of his labor. read more

Warm, friendly. Great food, especially beet salad, veggie burger, and salmon. Best cocktails in Placerville! Great decor inside and fun outside area. read more

Service good, nice inside, food not so good and way overpriced! $25 for a burger ok, but when comes out overcooked and tasteless that $25 was a REAL BURN!!! Won't go back. read more

The Independent food was fabulous. I had the Calamari, Polenta, Seared Ahi, and Bread Pudding. Best overall dinner that I have had in a while. Our server, Trevor, was attentive and cordial - as well as his two other team members. The ambience was nice and sound level was moderate. Parking was readily available to the left of the restaurant. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - Bread Pudding - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

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We had a great experience at the Independent! It was our 39th anniversary and they treated us very nicely. My Vesper was awesome as was my wife's bubbly. The fried calamari arrived hot, crispy and delicious. My skirt steak and my wife's filet were cooked to perfection and the sides were awesome. Our server recommended the chef's special dessert which was a chocolate and hazelnut cookie crust filled with some sort of Nutella ganache topped with a hazelnut whipped cream. And they decorated the dessert plate with a very friendly "Happy Anniversary" in chocolate sauce. Great night; thanks to all! read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - Our customized dessert! - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

This is a great place to have lunch or dinner in the Apple Hill area. The food, drinks and service was great! They have indoor and outdoor seating, we sat outside and enjoyed the nice weather. read more

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We recommend. We visited on Valentine's Day and enjoyed our server's care and the food as well as the ambiance. We will go back.

The last time we will go here. How come it takes so long to get food and when it finally comes to the table its cold. For the price if I want medium steak dont bring raw not sending it back and don't sit at the bar if your over 50 they want the young crowd. Powell's Steamer Rocks! read more

One of our favorite places to go for date night or to take friends. Cozy atmosphere, pleasant staff and food is second to none! Try it!

Outstanding service... terrific food.. the tuna tartare and blackened salmon tacos were terrific.. and they had a nice wine list. Cozy environment that was so-0-0 comfortable read more

The Independent Restaurant, Placerville, CA, February 10, 2024 After a full afternoon of celebrating an early "Valentines Day" wine tasting event at Nello Olivo Winery in Camino, we stopped in around 5 pm for dinner. We didn't have a reservation but we were lucky enough to get the last indoor table. They have indoor and outdoor seating and a medium-sized bar. The outdoor seating is covered and they have patio heaters and an outdoor fireplace, but it was starting to cool off outside, so sitting indoors was my preferred choice. Outside probably would have worked too. The inside part of the restaurant is warm and cozy for the most part. They have tables for 2, 4, and 6 people. The bar area was pretty packed, but the acoustics of the place are pretty good and it wasn't too noisy. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and answered all our questions. We ordered a glass of Trefethen Chardonnay, which we split, and we split the salmon with roasted Brussel sprouts and butternut squash. The meal came with a vinaigrette salad that included butternut squash and bacon crumbles. It was flavorful. The salmon was nicely cooked and came in a tasty creamy lemon caper butter sauce. There was a split charge, which I was happy to pay because everything came out on separate plates and the portions were perfect. We got the chocolate pot de crème for desert with a couple glasses of port. Perfect way to cap off the meal! read more

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Special place. Community feel. Great drinks & food. Reasonably priced although admittedly on the high end for the area. Fabulous staff. Customers are warm & friendly. This should be the local gathering spot for locals who can afford it. This could become my happy spot. read more

Incredible food! The service is very professional and cordial, and I love the cozy ambiance. There's also a parking lot, which is hard to come by in the Main St corridor. Did I mention that the food is spectacular? read more

Went there last night $66 steak and got Yukon gold mash potatoes from a box, waiter said we make our mashed potatoes fresh every day. Must have ran out and went to the box. Bathrooms were horrible, over flowed toilet, garbage cans full. Ordered a beer and they were out of the beer I selected but instead of telling me just brought me a beer I didn't order. Didn't even ask first, felt obligated to accept their pour. Checked out place because we were going to have our wedding dinner here and when the manager walked up to talk about it we said we changed our mind. Didn't even clue into the fact we changed our minds for a reason. One appetizer, one spilt plate 2 drinks $125 before tip. WAY over priced. All around HORRIBLE place to go maybe at $50-$75 for this quality of food but the manager, and service and cleanliness of the place lacks. Stay away save your money or go out to dinner twice at any other place. read more

I'm usually not one to rate five stars on a first visit unless the place totally knocked my socks off! We were in the area and came here on a whim. We were seated immediately, we chose to sit inside, although I think the patio would have been a better choice. Anyway, I had the filet and hubs had the fish and chips. My filet was cooked perfectly! But I didn't care for the Demi glacé, it overpowered the filet. The turnip fries were good and a nice alternative to your typical French fries. The tempura fish and chips were fried perfectly and the remoulade was a nice touch. We did have a lot of time in between where our drinks were not replenished. They weren't busy and a lot of help were idly walking around. Our server was just ok. I think four stars was more than generous for our experience. read more

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The Owner is great, and all the servers keep up on everything. They are all very nice. We love this place. It's our favorite The food is all wonderful. We like their steaks. There is a lot of other good food on the menu. That's where we go!!! The ambiance is great, night or day, with outside seating. read more

Food & service are delicious!! A very enjoyable experience. Great for a special occasion!!

Valentines dinner requested fireplace area. Raining outside but we were warm and dry inside. Great food-good service-ladies pleased with entire experience. Highly recommended for that special occasion read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - This is the outdoor patio on Valentine's night - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

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The food was good, nice large portions. I had the brick chicken and it was tasty and tender, on a bed of roasted tomatoes with feta. The mashed potatoes were lovely as was the broccolini. The waiter Jake was great and super nice despite the fact that as I sat down I knocked a full glass of ice water to the floor. The restaurant is quaint and noise level was low except for the bar tender and the shaker! Lol. There is outdoor seating too. read more

The Independent Restaurant and Bar - Brick (Mediterranean chicken) - New American Near Me - Placerville, California

I don't usually leave reviews unless the restaurant is absolute garbage, or it's so damn good that I feel the need to advertise it. This would be the latter situation. This place has the best prime rib I've ever eaten, and I've been eating top quality prime rib my entire life. I was also impressed by the prime grade ribeye (prime grade is not very common in restaurants) as well as the sides, the drinks, the desert, the service, and the ambiance. All around it was a fantastic experience, would highly recommend! read more

Awesome restaurant Great vibe with high quality. The salmon with the beurre blanc sauce is outstanding!! Homemade blue cheeses dressing is very nice touch read more

Ordered a filet minion, beef was good, Cesar Salad, hardly any dressing no cheese, was told came with veggies, then delivered with French fries, waiter, sorry I was mistaken no vegetables, for the most expensive item on the menu fries & meat, very disappointed, I don't know if this is the norm, I hope not, we won't return, sorry to say, use to be outstanding, now sub par, I'll pray this was just a freak incident read more