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Mountain Top Cafe has been in the same building, on top of the hill outside Phelan, since the restaurant began operation back in 1940. Over the years, the restaurant has been known for delicious food, reasonable prices, along with friendly service, and is a favorite eating spot for locals, truckers, and travelers on CA State Highway 138. 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: Mountain Top Cafe is located on top of a hill, at the 4800 foot level, along CA 138, just a couple miles outside the small high desert community of Phelan. As I take this photo, I'm standing in a large, dirt parking lot where several big rigs are parked, as this fine restaurant caters to locals, truckers, and travelers along the highway.
Photo: As you enter the restaurant, you'll immediately notice the counter, and since it's just a few days before Memorial Day, many patriotic decorations. It's 9 in the morning on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, and I've stopped by to enjoy breakfast. Over the years, I've passed by this fine restaurant many times, but today was the first day I was able to stop by, and enjoy their fine diner cuisine.
Photo: The restaurant opened in this building, at this location back in 1940, and except for a few minor details, such as the prices, very little has changed over the last 78 years. The hospitality and delicious food has remained unchanged over the years, along with the stone fireplace, which is still the only heat source in the restaurant.
Photo: The breakfast menu offers many choices and covers all bases. After scanning the menu, I settled on chorizo and eggs, which seems appropriate when you're enjoying breakfast in the high desert country.
Photo: Although Mountain Top Cafe isn't located on historic Route 66, the former highway was located only a few miles to the east - now largely obliterated by Interstate 15 - but Mountain Top Cafe began during the heyday of Route 66, and is a typical highway diner from that bygone era.
Photo: My friendly server, Sharon, brings my order to my place at the counter with a smile. She was very friendly, efficient, and glad to chat with me, as her schedule permitted. She was the only server on duty on this Wednesday morning, as just after I arrived, many customers came in, she kept very busy. She kept my coffee mug full of delicious coffee and as her time permitted, we were able to engage in friendly conversation.
Photo: Despite being the only server on duty, on my request, Sharon took my photo as I prepare to enjoy a delicious breakfast.
Photo: I ordered the "2 Egg Breakfast," which gives you many choices of meat, toast and potatoes. Chorizo was offered as a meat choice, so how could I refuse? Normally chorizo is mixed with eggs, but I asked it be served separately, as that's how I prefer it. I ordered eggs over easy, which is my de facto standard, along with hash browns instead of country potatoes. Sharon recited the toast choices and one of the choices was a biscuit and gravy, so I stopped right there. This breakfast was simply delicious, and kept me going all the way until dinner. The photo doesn't do the size of the breakfast justice, but you get a lot of perfectly cooked hash brown potatoes at Mountain Top Cafe. Such a great breakfast! I expect the only MAJOR changes to Mountain Top Cafe since 1940 as been the advent of electricity in the late 1940's, and much higher, 2018 prices. Oh, I bet they didn't have a web site back in 1940! Other than that, the building is rustic, the fireplace is ordinal, and like always, the food is delicious and the service is friendly. High desert dining at it's best, on CA State Highway 138, just outside of Phelan. Mountain Top Cafe Copyright(c) 2018 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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