We've been enjoying the Saloon since they reopened a few years ago with new owners, revamped menu and a refreshed dining room. The food was interesting with a bit of a Mexican influence and some nice vegetarian choices. It seems they changed chefs in the past few months and now unfortunately food is not as good, in our opinion anyways. We went out for dinner there on a weekend night before a concert recently, made our usual reservation and got there on time. They sat us almost immediately but it was around twenty minutes before any of the wait staff interacted with us. A manager type person ran around with a concerned look but never dropped by to check. When our server did appear, she stood on the far end of the table and tried to talk to us. The noise in the restaurant was deafening and we invited her to get a little closer so we could hear each other. Twenty minutes after ordering our drinks we got them. I ordered the skirt steak, my wife ordered the short rib. After around 40 minutes they brought our food out. It seems that the chef decided I should have the elk instead of the beef, my wife got her order. The server was surprised I ended up with elk (so was I) and offered to it back, but since I wanted to eat with my wife and we had been there for an hour I declined. I do like elk but this dish wasn't that good. My wife did like her short ribs. And the drinks were good when we finally got them. One suggestion for the restaurant: if you don't have the staff to handle customers, don't fill up the restaurant. It's okay to turn people away. What's not good service: Seating customers, making them wait, and then giving one of them the wrong order. We are going to hold off on returning to Golden Gate for a while.
Carolyn D.
Delish with excellent service, such a great vibe and great curbside views! Had lox and tomato and the frittata. Potatoes were on point.
Kyle Channel
Red Dead Redemption vibes ?
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Al Bonnenfant
We love the Holbrook, but must tell you. For the exorbitant price of the food, it should been special. A bit below average. The Bolognese was $38 and luke warm…barely edible. Step up your game if you are going to charge 5 star prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
David Schott
They have expanded the menu since the last time I was here. I love new options. I had the tagliatelle bolognese which was excellent. Cocktails are always excellent. Staff and service were perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh Smith
Drinks are very expensive and weak. When I asked the bar tender to make mine a little stronger - my gin and tonic was basically all tonic - he abliged but didn't tell me he would charge me for a whole other drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Chuck Eccles
Great atmosphere. Western motif.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Alohagm
Great food, great ambiance, great service. Hands down the best dining experience in Grass Valley. Proper craft cocktails paired with creative cuisine. We loved it so much we dined there for breakfast, lunch and dinner on our recent visit.
John Moriarty
First time at this place. The food was good but not great by a long shot, it was extremely salty and barely edible. I did not finish it because it was too salty. Did the chef even taste this stuff before he sent it out, I don't think so. The service could have been a little better, there was long gaps between seeing the waitstaff. The atmosphere was nice being in an old hotel.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Patrick R
Marginal at best. What you expect is what you get. Old bar in an old hotel. Bar tender and server was too busy to pay attention to the customers. Tables and chairs are small and uncomfortable. Food was nothing special. Nothing really happened to support a return visit. Haven’t stayed in the hotel but don’t feel compelled to do so.
As we were vacationing in Grass Valley, CA, we decided to go eat at the main Holbrooke Hotel in the downtown area. The hotel in itself dates back to the 1800's and is quite remarkable inside if you enjoy classic modern decor! It was so beautiful. We decided to try their Golden Gate Saloon restaurant inside the hotel and it was delicious.
Kevin Barnum
Went here on Father’s Day. Thought the Lion’s Mane barbacoa plate sounded interesting. It was 38$. This was easily the worst dish I’ve ever eaten at this price point. Imagine eating dried mushroom jerky, if there is even such a thing, sprinkled with chili powder and served with some breakfast potatoes and over salted avocado. It was laughably awful. California cuisine gone too far. On top of that, the service was terrible. It took us an hour and a half to get from start to finish.We really wanted to like this place, and have given it a few chances. They have decent small plates (queso fundido) and a fun drink menu, but the main dishes are too overpriced and the service is just sub par, I’m sorry to say. My wife ordered the chicken dish, which was nothing more than a mediocre rotisserie with a side of rice and broccoli (30$).My suggestion: go to Lola’s in Nevada City for an overall better dining experience, minus the outdoor patio.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Deborah Phelps
Beautifully buffet brunch with nice selection of thick bacon, the best patty sausage, fritatta and so much more. We sat outside on a beautiful Saturday enjoying our nicely prepared cocktails and gentle music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Valerie A.
The food at this restaurant was phenomenal! It it pricey but so worth it! I ordered the Pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes mash and tangerine marmalade. That combination was unreal and delicious! Also their fresh bread and chicken wings are amazing for an appetizer. And lastly! Their vanilla ice cream and tres leches cake was to die for! Definitely come to this restaurant to treat yourself!
Bridget W
Excellent food and ambiance. Service was a little slow for only having 4 customers in the entire place. Love the moody atmosphere!!
We've been enjoying the Saloon since they reopened a few years ago with new owners, revamped menu and a refreshed dining room. The food was interesting with a bit of a Mexican influence and some nice vegetarian choices. It seems they changed chefs in the past few months and now unfortunately food is not as good, in our opinion anyways. We went out for dinner there on a weekend night before a concert recently, made our usual reservation and got there on time. They sat us almost immediately but it was around twenty minutes before any of the wait staff interacted with us. A manager type person ran around with a concerned look but never dropped by to check. When our server did appear, she stood on the far end of the table and tried to talk to us. The noise in the restaurant was deafening and we invited her to get a little closer so we could hear each other. Twenty minutes after ordering our drinks we got them. I ordered the skirt steak, my wife ordered the short rib. After around 40 minutes they brought our food out. It seems that the chef decided I should have the elk instead of the beef, my wife got her order. The server was surprised I ended up with elk (so was I) and offered to it back, but since I wanted to eat with my wife and we had been there for an hour I declined. I do like elk but this dish wasn't that good. My wife did like her short ribs. And the drinks were good when we finally got them. One suggestion for the restaurant: if you don't have the staff to handle customers, don't fill up the restaurant. It's okay to turn people away. What's not good service: Seating customers, making them wait, and then giving one of them the wrong order. We are going to hold off on returning to Golden Gate for a while.
Delish with excellent service, such a great vibe and great curbside views! Had lox and tomato and the frittata. Potatoes were on point.
Red Dead Redemption vibes ?
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
We love the Holbrook, but must tell you. For the exorbitant price of the food, it should been special. A bit below average. The Bolognese was $38 and luke warm…barely edible. Step up your game if you are going to charge 5 star prices.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
They have expanded the menu since the last time I was here. I love new options. I had the tagliatelle bolognese which was excellent. Cocktails are always excellent. Staff and service were perfect.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drinks are very expensive and weak. When I asked the bar tender to make mine a little stronger - my gin and tonic was basically all tonic - he abliged but didn't tell me he would charge me for a whole other drink.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 2
Great atmosphere. Western motif.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Great food, great ambiance, great service. Hands down the best dining experience in Grass Valley. Proper craft cocktails paired with creative cuisine. We loved it so much we dined there for breakfast, lunch and dinner on our recent visit.
First time at this place. The food was good but not great by a long shot, it was extremely salty and barely edible. I did not finish it because it was too salty. Did the chef even taste this stuff before he sent it out, I don't think so. The service could have been a little better, there was long gaps between seeing the waitstaff. The atmosphere was nice being in an old hotel.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Marginal at best. What you expect is what you get. Old bar in an old hotel. Bar tender and server was too busy to pay attention to the customers. Tables and chairs are small and uncomfortable. Food was nothing special. Nothing really happened to support a return visit. Haven’t stayed in the hotel but don’t feel compelled to do so.
Restaurantji Recommends
As we were vacationing in Grass Valley, CA, we decided to go eat at the main Holbrooke Hotel in the downtown area. The hotel in itself dates back to the 1800's and is quite remarkable inside if you enjoy classic modern decor! It was so beautiful. We decided to try their Golden Gate Saloon restaurant inside the hotel and it was delicious.
Went here on Father’s Day. Thought the Lion’s Mane barbacoa plate sounded interesting. It was 38$. This was easily the worst dish I’ve ever eaten at this price point. Imagine eating dried mushroom jerky, if there is even such a thing, sprinkled with chili powder and served with some breakfast potatoes and over salted avocado. It was laughably awful. California cuisine gone too far. On top of that, the service was terrible. It took us an hour and a half to get from start to finish.We really wanted to like this place, and have given it a few chances. They have decent small plates (queso fundido) and a fun drink menu, but the main dishes are too overpriced and the service is just sub par, I’m sorry to say. My wife ordered the chicken dish, which was nothing more than a mediocre rotisserie with a side of rice and broccoli (30$).My suggestion: go to Lola’s in Nevada City for an overall better dining experience, minus the outdoor patio.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Beautifully buffet brunch with nice selection of thick bacon, the best patty sausage, fritatta and so much more. We sat outside on a beautiful Saturday enjoying our nicely prepared cocktails and gentle music.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food at this restaurant was phenomenal! It it pricey but so worth it! I ordered the Pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes mash and tangerine marmalade. That combination was unreal and delicious! Also their fresh bread and chicken wings are amazing for an appetizer. And lastly! Their vanilla ice cream and tres leches cake was to die for! Definitely come to this restaurant to treat yourself!
Excellent food and ambiance. Service was a little slow for only having 4 customers in the entire place. Love the moody atmosphere!!