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Tom's Place Cafe is the centerpiece of Tom's Place Resort, which is a rustic resort located near Mammoth Lake, in Mono County, CA, that caters to hunters, fishing enthusiasts, outdoor lovers of all varieties, and those who enjoy outstanding, mountain cuisine, served by friendly staff. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: Tom's Place Cafe is located across the street from Tom's Place Resort, and the restaurant is co-located with the general store. The sign says the places has offered "100 Years of Reel Fun" as the Crowley Lake area, located in Mono County, CA, is noted for outstanding fishing and hunting. I wasn't "fishing," but on this late Tuesday morning, just past 11:00, October 25, 2022, but I was hungry, and I was "hunting" for a great cheeseburger and fries. I came to the right place!
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice the large counter, the well-stocked selection of beer and wine the restaurant offers, along with the signs, photos and posters, with the rustic decor in keeping with the area. Friendly hostess Maryanna was talking to the chef through the open window to the kitchen, as a Crowley Lake local sits at the counter and enjoys a late breakfast. The restaurant, along with the co-located general store are part of Tom's Place Resort, which is a rustic retreat in the eastern Sierra Nevada, which caters to hunters, fishermen, skiers, and anybody who enjoys the amazing outdoors that Mono County has to offer. Back in the day, this was a stage stop, but in 2022, it's a "go-to" spot for anyone who enjoys beautiful scenery, unlimited outdoor recreation, and great mountain cuisine.
Photo: The dining room is large, spacious, and the furniture is tables, with a few booths on the side. The restaurant is located in the very rural eastern Sierra Nevada region of California, at the elevation of the 6200 foot level, so as you would expect, the decor is very rustic, and reflects the character of the area.
Photo: Mule deer are indigenous to Mono County, and the area offers great deer hunting to sportsmen, and the restaurant is decorated with many mounted deer trophies, along with mounted antelope and fish. Many photos decorate the walls that offer a glimpse into the history of the restaurant, and many show snow, as this area receives YARDS of snow every winter, and is very popular to winter sports enthusiasts.
Photo: There is a model of the restaurant and general store building located on the mantle of the fireplace/stove that heats the dining room during the cold Mono County winters. I'm guessing it's "O-scale," and if you're an enthusiast of model railroading, you'll know that translates to a quarter inch to a foot in the real world. How to you find fish the "redneck" way? Just toss a stick dynamite into Crowley Lake and you'll see!
Photo: The kitchen is located just behind the bar, and features a window, where completed order are placed, and picked up by the hostess.
Photo: The "top" of the "Good Afternoon" section of the lunch menu starts with "Tom's Famous Charbroiled Burgers" and how could I resist a "Cheeseburger and Fries?" This is only a small section of the four-page menu the restaurant offers... click on the image to see the complete menu.
Photo: The chef was a little surprised as I snapped a photo of him, as his was working his magic in the kitchen. I appreciated the talent of this gentleman, as he created an amazing cheeseburger.
Photo: After I placed my order, I had time to look around into the adjoining general store to admire their fine wares. As you enter, you're greeted with the check out counter, which features a great supply of booze, which is a necessity in the eastern Sierra.
Photo: The general store sells snack food, canned food, a modest selection of fresh meat and vegetables, along with fishing, hunting, camping supplies, with lots of general hardware items to choose from. You could say, "A little of everything." Oh yes, how could I forget to mention the TONS of sunflower seeds and souvenirs, crafted by local artisans.
Photo: I love this sign posted on the front door of the store, which gave me a good idea of the local atmosphere.
Photo: Tom's Place Cafe features a full-service bar, which is located between the restaurant and the general store. On this late Tuesday morning, it wasn't open, as it usually opens in the afternoon, and serves all of your favorite beer, wine and mixed drinks until closing time, which is usually about 8:00 in the evening.
Photo: If you've enjoy three or more cocktails, you get to wear a helmet! The sign doesn't say anything about beer or wine... caveat emptor.
Photo: Each table is set with Tapatio hot sauce, malt vinegar, mustard, ketchup, sugar, along with salt and pepper. What more could you ask for?
Photo: Meet Maryanna, my amazingly friendly hostess, who brought my "Cheeseburger and Fries" to me with a friendly smile. This fine lady was very friendly, and treated my like royalty.
Photo: I'm a happy guy, as I'm ready to enjoy my "Cheeseburger and Fries," enhanced by a couple slices of bacon. I thank my amazingly friendly hostess, Maryanna, for graciously taking my photo.
Photo: From the "Good Afternoon - Lunch" section of the menu, I went with "Tom's Famous Charbroiled Burger," complete with cheese, and for an extra couple of bucks, I splurged and went with bacon, to make this an outstanding lunch! The burger arrived open faced, with the meat patty, melted cheese and bacon slices placed on top of the buns, with the lettuce, tomato, red onion slices, dill pickle slices and a cup of mayonnaise on the side, which made for an amazing photo. More important than the photo is the fact that the "cold" veggies and mayo, and the "warm" meat, cheese, bacon and buns stay "warm, " which makes for an amazing taste sensation of a burger when you contrast the "hot" and "cold" together. Naturally, the fries were served on the side and arrive "warm," as you'd expect at any fine restaurant. I'm guessing the meat patty was about 6 ounces or so, and I didn't specify how it was to be grilled, but the beef arrived cooked medium, which always works for me. When I assembled the burger, and took my first bite, I was rewarded with the warm, juicy goodness of the seasoned beer, the perfectly melted cheese, along with the crispy smokiness that the bacon slices provided. Contrasting to the "warm" juiciness was the "cold" goodness of the fresh lettuce, tomato slices, red onion and the dill pickle slices. Oh... what a delicious cheeseburger! The chef has talent, as the "hot" versus "cold" is one of the things that makes for a delicious burger, and the chef at Tom's Place Cafe "nailed" the burger, and created a burger masterpiece. The fries were very plentiful - a small "mammoth" mountain - and perfectly deep fried to a crispy golden brown on the outside, and a tender white inside. The fries made an outstanding side to my "Cheeseburger and Fries." The cheeseburger was delicious, and the fries simply enhanced the amazing lunch I enjoyed on this late Tuesday morning at Tom's Place Cafe.
Photo: I spread mayo on the buns, assembled the burger, drizzled mustard on top of the meat/cheese/bacon, placed the bun on top and... and... I was rewarded with an amazing lunch of "Cheeseburger and Fries," at Tom's Place Cafe, located at Lake Crowley, near Mammoth Lakes, in California's beautiful eastern Sierra Nevada high country. The fine cuisine served at Tom's Place Cafe is as spectacular as the mountain scenery, along with the amazing fishing at Crowley Lake, the dining room is fun and rustic, and the staff is as friendly as it gets. For spectacular mountain dining, think of Tom's Place Cafe, located at beautiful Crowley Lake, CA! Tom's Place Cafe Copyright(c) 2022 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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