The best restaurant in town by far. Great wine list. The service is top notch. The menu is seasonal so there is always something different. They had live music (solo guitarist) on a Friday night. We went for a birthday and they personalized the menu which was a nice subtle touch. I've never had a bad meal here and will keep coming back again and again. read more

See all

Everything at Twelve 28 is always mind-blowingly fantastic. They have a seasonal menu and a cozy farmhouse chic ambiance. servers are always friendly, attentive and knowledgable. They serve beer and wine. We shared the beet plate and the german potato dish(things Dwight from the office would order lol). The potato dish was creamy and filling with a tart chutney? sauce? on top. The beet dish was a work of art, with flavorful beets and a delicious, creamy hummus. Lastly we had the blood orange panna cotta. The jelly on top was fresh and tart and the cream was excellent. It cane with a pretty white chocolate leaf and a biscuit. My only drawback with this place is that it is so expensive--which makes sense with the incredible food and quality ingredients. It's a rare treat but if I win the lottery I will be here every day. read more

See all

Everything about this restaurant was enjoyable. From the food, service, menu choices, etc. Server was attentive and answered all our questions and provided anecdotal information on the restaurant and it's history. Highly recommend. read more

Food and service is always the best of the best!! Their chef is absolutely amazing!! Definitely a 5 star restaurant!!

Was curious why this place had such high reviews. The menu itself didn't necessarily appeal to me but none the less made it in to give it a try. Started with beats/hummus salad. Beet salads are a thing on everyone's menus these days, not complaining but had a few. This was different. The beets were nice, the dish was pretty, but the beet/hummus spread at the bottom--I don't know what to make of it? I don't think it paired well with the beets. My opinion at least.. it came with 3 small sesame chips (4 would have been nice or some extra on the side, so we didn't have to fight over the last one) . It was not served with a spoon, maybe need a spatula lol, making it difficult to scoop out of the deep bowl. For dinner, We both ordered the scallops. This dish wasn't as pretty, colors all the same, but the worst part was the flavors were all over the place! Not sure who thought this was a good idea? The squash purée at the bottom had its own strong flavor, the Calabrian chili sauce had its own very very strong spicy flavor, the sweet potato fries had their own flavor, the greens had their own flavor and the scallops had none. All together this dish was unbalanced. For one, The flavors didn't seem appropriate for a fish protein nor all that edible. So so strong. I ended up just eating the scallops. They could have been good if seasoned and cooked properly. Under seasoned, Bland and soft. I took a picture of my half eaten scallop. Sorry! One side, over cooked and the other side,, well, not sure it ever got flipped? Complex menu items that didn't impress me and over priced for what we were actually served. Maybe the other items are better? Don't order the scallops. read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Scallop on its side. If you zoom in, you can see the heavy sear on one side and zero sear on the other. - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

Why has it taken me so many years to review one of my favorite restaurants?? Because I'm afraid once the secret is out, I'll never be able to get back in. We went and had dinner on Friday, with some friends who had never experienced Twelve 28 before, because one of my favorite seasonal items was on the menu...cachapas! The food is always outstanding, the staff is so friendly, and I love the ambience of the intimate setting. I only have a picture of the flourless chocolate cake, one of two desserts we tried. The Beehive crepe is one of my favorites! My friends were impressed. We'll be back again! read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

Dinner at this place is an amazing experience!! All the food had amazing flavors and twists!! Found this via yelp and will be back. Try anything you can the salads wonderful!! The steak was really good!! We will be back!! read more

See all

Had a wonderful dinner with great service and very tasty food which was well prepared and presented. Thank you!

Down the street and the only good food in town, so we used to go quite often. Like everything, it's gotten much pricier, so we don't go that frequently these days. Good, reliable seasonal menu, super fresh, amazing desserts, too. read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Twelve28 Kitchen - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

100% will be back and have already told at least a dozen people about this hidden gem since dining there tonight. The service was great. We were able to land a last minute reservation and were greeted very warmly when we came in. Despite the restaurant being full and busy, the servers were very attentive to our table. Our personal server was knowledgeable and very helpful answering our questions about the menu offerings and wine pairings. The food?? -was absolutely IMPECCABLE. Our meals came quickly and perfectly hot. You could taste the love and detail in every bite. Flavors were woven through out the dish not just seasoned before leaving the kitchen. These are not dishes that come from anything other than scratch. Even reading the menu was a delight and insight to the chef's creativity, ingenuity and skill. Despite being very full, we HAD to order dessert; if anything out of curiosity because the meal was so incredible. As in our entrées, our tiramisu was exquisitely and exceptionally delicious and crafted completely from scratch. Proof of love in the details? the homemade miniature chocolate chip cookies that came with our check. I CAN'T WAIT to go back!! read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Miniature chocolate chip cookies - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

See all

When we made the reservations to celebrate my dads birthday, we got a text back asking what his name was. I thought that was interesting but I answered. When we arrived my dads name was surprisingly placed on a birthday card signed my the staff and the menu said happy birthday Roberto with his name on it. That was indeed a thoughtful gesture. They had beautiful artwork and the place was lively with people but not loud. We started off with " Best Damn Soup" of the day. I wasn't that impressed to be honest. I tasted the watercress for sure and also the garlic but it wasn't that overwhelming with it so that was good. My father liked it more than I did and finished it off. The bread was not complimentary. It was called "Deer Creek bake house sourdough" The bread was so warm and toasty. The middle was soft and you can definitely taste the sourdough. The salted whipped maldon sea butter made it taste even more amazing. I ordered the "crispy pork confit" I did like it, but even though it was tender it also could have been a bit more moist. There was a slight dryness to the meat. I did like the camellia bean purée at the bottom. It was kinda like having an alternative to mash so I liked that about it. I don't think the cattle beans added anything to it because having the ham along with it, was kinda weird because you have an elegant looking dish that kinda tasted like it had BBQ beans as a side. The collard greens were also good with the dish. The dessert was pretty good. It was a bread pudding that they nicely put a candle on for my dad. It was not free but he did love it. Everything was a bit costly so honestly I did expect a bit more. The waitress was very attentive and kind. When they give you the check they give you tiny little chocolate chip cookies which was also a nice surprise. I'm not against going back if others want to go. The service made it very enjoyable read more

See all

My favorite restaurant of all time. So blown away at the complexity of the food and the wonderful, warm, friendly atmosphere. This place is truly truly special. If you appreciate good food you and you haven't been, you're truly missing out, and it's worth a drive. If you don't appreciate good food, try it anyway and you'll learn very quickly. read more

This experience was very special and unique! From the atmosphere to the food to the customer service...absolute A+ !

My wife and I had another amazing dinner last night at Twelve28! It was great to see the restaurant buzzing. Our small town community has observed so many businesses close their doors for good. To have this family run business shine through the adversity the industry continues to face is a blessing for us. Last night I ordered one of their rotating craft beers from Moonraker brewing company out of Auburn. A Hazy Pale Ale. (Love their beer selection) The "pok pok bok bok" is always my go to. The crispy outside and amazing tamarind sauce sauce is so satisfying. This app. alone is enough to fill me up. I am a Maine native and I was so excited to see scallops harvested from my home state on the menu! Naturally I gravitated towards this dish and as soon as I took the first bite I was blown away by the flavors, they blended so well and were seared perfectly. I literally looked up at my wife and stated, "oh my god, these this is amazing.." lol We look forward to our next visit! Thank you Chef Zach for bringing in such a unique dish to Penn Valley! read more

I really can't say enough nice things about this place, I'd give six stars if I could. We've been coming here for nice dinners for awhile. In the last year however, that came to a halt because my wife's dietary restrictions basically took restaurants off the table--far beyond gluten free. We wanted to do something nice for our anniversary, and we wanted to go to a favorite place. My wife called ahead and long story short, they accommodated her needs. Not only that, the service was excellent and friendly as always, and I got to have an excellent meal (much more delicious than my wife's!). As others have noted, the chef here really knows how to make delicious food, and how to present it. They really go out of there way here to provide an excellent experience for you. read more

OMG. Beautiful comfort food is what I would call this menu. First off, the titles of the dishes are witty. Second, every single thing we ordered was YUMMMY. We were a party of 5 (all foodies visiting from SF) and we ordered 7 dishes to share and all the desserts on the menu. We started off with 5 entrees to share but when we realized every single dish was so good, we had to order more. This family owned business is a hidden gem. The price point was so reasonable and I would go back at least once a week if I lived in the neighborhood. TEN STARS IF I COULD. Thank you! Posted some photos with this post but realized I didn't take pics of the best dishes IMO (the Chachupa, porkbelly, pok pok chicken, and shrimp on shrimp). We ate them before we could take a photo. read more

See all

Great quite restaurant, flavorful beautiful food plate, friendly staff and owner. Well worth the drive from Auburn. Has nights offering live music. read more

Truly one of the best meals we have ever had! Not only was the food spectacular but the service was amazing! Thank you for making our anniversary special. read more

See all

BEST restaurant in Nevada County!! Every time we come here, my husband and I are blown away by the service, food, and experience. A must visit. read more

What a delightful restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was outstanding. Don't miss the scallops. They will excite your tastebuds. This jewel is not to be missed. read more

Excellent food, great service. Ambiance weak. But food makes up for it. Will visit again

Twelve 28 Kitchen came highly recommended and did not disappoint as we celebrated an amazing 60th birthday dinner for my wife Lisa. All of the dishes were exquisitely prepared, full of flavor and absolutely wonderful! Everyone was so kind and welcoming, starting with the owner Michael who greeted us upon arriving for our reservation. We received excellent service throughout the evening from our super attentive and friendly server Haley. Then, to top it all off, after enjoying our amazing dinner and yummy dessert, we even received a table side visit by Chef Zach. read more

See all

Amazing food and service! It was a member of our parties birthday, and the staff did an amazing job of making it special for her. Do take the beautiful drive to Penn Valley, and try this hidden gem. We have been telling all our friends about it and they are looking to try soon. read more

We want to thank the crew at Twelve 28 for the amazing evening they provided us with for our 55th anniversary. We were warmly welcomed, and everyone was extremely courteous, and, as always, the food was absolutely amazing! We especially appreciated that they personalized our menu left a nice card on our table for us to read when we got there. read more

This restaurant had been highly recommended and their menu looked interesting. Service was excellent and so was our Squash Blossom appetizer but went south from there. A $25 corkage fee is not unusual these days but stemware was abysmal. The duck breast was oddly cut and was over cooked. Gnocchi was dry and Aglinotti was bland. Prices are high for what you get and although I think they are trying to be a higher end restaurant customers walk in they looked like they hadn't showered or combed their hair....needs to be a dress code if you want to be considered fine dining. read more

I've been in twice, once with my daughter and once with my husband. They were consistent with serving excellence. The seafood melted in your mouth, it was perfectly cooked, and flavored well. Eating seafood so far from the coast can be sketchy, unless you're in a in a five star restaurant with a culinary master, which we were. The menu changes with the season and I was excited because the dishes were not only gluten free and dairy free, they were delicious. Every bite was a gift. The service was perfect, efficient and timely. There was also a gentleman playing soft live music, and a waterfall next to us. We couldn't ask for more. Loved every minute. read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Squid - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

See all

The food is amazing. It never disappoints. We celebrated my husband's 65th birthday and they made it real special for him.

Always Amazing. Their menu constantly has new and creative creations, the service is always welcoming, and the ambiance is absolutely stunning. The quality of ingredients is obvious and you eat with your eyes just as much as your stomach. It's always a lovely experience and we look forward to our next time in! read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - La bete noire - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

See all

Superb customer service run by the chef's father as host. A very good wine cellar with a broad and high quality selection. I wish this and our other local restaurants would carry one or two of the better local vintners' products in addition (Casque comes to mind). Food was a clear cut above what we've come to expect in this part of Placer County, and we only wish there were more restauranteurs like this who set the bar higher. Lovely scallops, gorgeous salad, and a superb dessert. I don't tend to write about individual dishes, but the creativity and quality of what we ordered indicates to me that you can comfortably expect the same regardless of what you choose. We will be back. read more

Fabulous food and service We loved our meal and love every time we down there Not cheap but worth the price read more

The best food I've eaten in a really long time! We will make this a stop every time we come to the Grass Valley area! Absolutely amazing! read more

See all

An amazing gem! The food and service were wonderful! Fine dining exists in the Foothills. Each course was truly delicious with no flaws to be had. Presentation, taste and portions were all on point. Service was friendly with unexpected special touches for a friend's anniversary such as personalized menus. read more

We were visiting friends in the Grass Valley area and they suggested we try Twelve 28. It was my sister's birthday and I let them know when I made the reservation. They did not disappoint! From the moment you enter the ambiance and vibe is so intimate and inviting. We went on a Thursday evening, they had a live guitarist, the warm and charming atmosphere and the welcoming greetings from the staff is second to none. Our table was appointed with a hand written birthday card signed by the staff and a personalized menu for the birthday girl. Every attention to detail was on point. The menu is exciting and innovative and the choices were beyond tantalizing, it was so hard to choose. The food was as good as I've had anywhere in the greater Sacramento area. The presentation was artful and gorgeous, the flavors were deep, rich and seasoned perfectly. We can't wait to go back again. 5 stars are not enough I highly recommend you check them out. read more

We have a fabulous mouth experience EVERY TIME we eat here! We love everything about this restaurant-- local ingredients, friendly staff, inventive menu, and local accompanists. read more

This family owned an operated business is a real treasure in Nevada County. The family is wonderful, the chef is fantastic, the staff is efficient, knowledgeable, kind, and professional. This is my favorite restaurant in the whole area and I can't say enough good things about it. Go, treat yourself and someone special to this culinary delight!!! CiCi read more

[Review is for a visit on the evening of October 22, 2021] If you are seeking the extraordinary in food without the attitude or stuffy dining room, look no further. After a decade as a sommelier and a director within the restaurant industry for about as long, I can honestly say Chef Zach and his menu blew me away. We went for a birthday dinner and thought the subtle and caring touches they provided to honor my guest's birthday were extra-ordinary and charmed us immediately. Then the food came out. I honestly don't know where to start so let me just say that Chef Zach clearly runs the kitchen as a labor of LOVE. After an amazing take on burrata and heirloom tomatoes to a flawless homemade pasta, it was one exciting Christmas present for the palate after another. From a friendly greeting, to seating in the cozy and bustling dining room, to feeding, everyone was incredibly charming. Not only did the owner Michael stop by to check on our experience but Chef Zach, his son, did as well. Our server, Hailey, was also above and beyond kind and attentive. Seriously, if you support small business, want to keep family-run culinary gems like this alive in a struggling economy, your saved up dollars for high-quality dinner out on the town are well spent at Twelve28 Kitchen. We drove 2.5 hours for the experience and feel it is easily worth a drive from San Francisco, San Jose, or Modesto to eat here! You will not be disappointed; you will be blown away. Huge thanks to Zach, his dad Michael, Hailey, and the whole staff for an extraordinary evening. We will be back! read more

Great food, the atmosphere was somewhere between casual and fine dining - relaxed rather than stuffy. Got to speak with the chef briefly and I'll say here what I said to him: five stars, no notes! read more

My wife and I just celebrated our anniversary at this outstanding restaurant. We have been looking for exceptional food for the past 4-years. We found what we were looking for. Twelve 28 Kitchen has great attentive service, nice atmosphere and outstanding food. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a great restaurant. You won't be disappointed and we plan to be back soon. read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Great desert!!! - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

Update: We really wanted to like this place -- been 3 times in the last month and another time in June. They're expensive but the food is unique and delicious. Sadly it's anything but a relaxing atmosphere. They are only open from 5-8p (really short hours especially for a Saturday!) so the time you get there is super rushed. We were there with our friends, celebrating TWO anniversaries... waitress and owner kept coming back to our table and interrupting our convos which is rather frustrating. Our reservations were at 5p (we walked in the door at 5:02p)... ordered 6 dinner plates for four people, bread and dessert. Plus SIX iced teas, which by the way, they do not offer free refills, they charge you for every single glass... we spent $24 for just our tea! She also mentioned they only allow an hour and a half time slot for each table and that because we were LATE, they needed us move to the bar so they could seat the next party who had been "waiting awhile". We paid for our dinner at 6:32p then left. I doubt any of us return any time soon. read more

Twelve 28 Kitchen - Heirloom tomato salad - New American Near Me - Penn Valley, California

See all

It was a Friday night and we had a party of 4 with reservations for the patio. This restaurant is a gourmet place, has a mixed clientele, located across from a gas station, next to a pizza joint. A unique experience. Lucky for us, the Owner realized the group at our scheduled table was so busy drinking wine that they would cause the table to be unavailable for our party. Thus, with no delay we ended up inside at a great location. We are return diners as the food is creative, delicious, unique, and, yes, expensive. Service was immediate, friendly, accommodating. Since the menu is creative with complex flavor experiences, and ever changing , no need to explain our meals. The highlight for me was the Turnip the Beet Salad. Outstanding...an improvement over their previous fantastic Beet Salad. So, yes, we will return. read more