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fibrmcg - we simply don't have OC style places up here. I had a similar experience to you (different place). Great busboy (who should have been a server) and a lousy server (who couldn't make it bussing tables).

I made a point of finding the manager and had him call the busboy and server into the conversation. I gave the busboy $20.and my card, and the server $1. I told the manager that I NEVER wanted to hear any flak over what I did.

I happened to know the owner, but they didn't know that. The next time I went, the bussboy was a very pleasant server and the server was nowhere to be found.

The manager sure remembered me!

Well, bless me. Today is my birthday, and we went to the Royal Oak. Filet Mignon to die for, cooked just right, with super service, ditto with my sweetie's prime rib, and a price for two dinners and a bottle of wine for under $90.00! Add a $20.00 tip, and it was well worth it. I don't mind paying for great food and good service. I do mind paying the price for it, but not receiving it ~ either one.

RonCpp, What location were you referring to? New name, new chef, new reviews every 6 months?

Love the Royal Oak. Just can't pay those prices weekly. Yearly or bi-yearly, perhaps.

I also have not had a good meal at Bin189. Been there a few times and not in a hurry to go back. Not cheap either.

The Grill is exceptional but is usually hectic when I have gone. Not sure if others feel the same way.

When I want a quiet and less hectic atmosphere with good food and a view, I do prefer The Storybook inn.

Everyone has a different experience I suppose.

I was referring to the eating establishment at the Storybook Inn. I noted last year that the name kept changing and people started a new round of reviews of a changed menu. I was told here that the changes didn't involve a new chef but one chef experimenting. I gather that is no longer the case and that someone new is trying to make a go of it. I see constant changing of the formula as a symptom of trouble and an effort to find a crowd to provide more business.

It started out at least 3 years ago as Elario's, changed to Eligio's. I think there was a change of management concerning the restaurant portion of the Storybook Inn. Before that Teachout owned it.

Just so you know my husband and I just took over the Malt Shoppe in Green Valley Lake(April 9th) and we love food so we gave the menu a make over. We have Filet Mignon that we slice there and we don't freeze our meat, Grilled Salmon dinners and salads, Wild caught Halibut, Jumbo sea scallops which Jerry usually sautees with minced garlic, white wine, butter, and mushrooms... but you can pretty much ask for whatever way you want them, we also do Chicken Oscar(Chic.breast with King crab asparagus and bernaise sauce on top)We also make Prime Rib on Sat. and Sun. sometimes Friday. Again we love to cook and we love putting out good food and service we are small but give us a try! We've been in the business for 30+. We have our beer and wine license. Our hours are Tue-Thurs. 10am-2pm Fri.10am-8pm Sat.9am-8pm Sun.8am-7pm (909)867-3805 Thank You!The Malt Shoppe in Green Valley Lake Don't let the name fool you.

It was never Elario's. It was always Eligio's and was that way for a little longer than 3 years. The recipe's and menu stayed the same until recently when the owner had an opportunity to hire a new chef and took that opportunity to change the cuisine to seasonal American.

The new chef is a local that wanted to come back home after working at various restaurants on the east coast and try his trade in the town he grew up in.

Yes, sometimes Chef's do experiment and offer those as specials.

YAY, shortround! I love the Royal Oak. worked there for 3 yrs as a hostess. Their food & service has always been topnotch.

The Royal Oak became the royal joke, we ate their every week for a month. I'll give it a 5...middle of the road for us!

My dear hubby use to call it the Royal poke! I worked there about 20 yrs ago & haven't been in at least 10, SO,wouldn't know,but,shortround enjoyed it! Happy b-day,dude. Glad you had a good one.

AND,what's w/all these people bitching about restaurants & when I complained about getting crap service @ the Crestline Cafe, everyone got on my case?!!!! WHAT BS!

For at least six months the restaurant at the storybook inn was called Elario's. The sign out front said so. I just checked that with three of my friends, we weren't seeing things, the restaurant did have the name Elario's for awhile.

In fact, Skip O'Donnell played piano there once or twice when it was Elario's. They never had him or any other live music since those times.

Gee. Gus and Kathy would be astonished to find out they named the restaurant Elario's and to think they spent money on a sign that said Elario's. Especially since they named it Cucina Cielo.

Same menu,same recipes. When Kathy and Gus left, Eligio Miglia stayed and continued the same menu, same recipes just changed the name. Call all the friends you want but it was called Cucina Cielo and when the old owner's left it was called Eligio's and never was it ever called Elario's...

Oh and they never had a piano player named Skip McDonell. His name was Dan. I checked with my friends.

That's funny, they hired Skip to play on February 14th several years ago. He had one call back, then nothing after that.

I heard somewhere that a restaurant on the mountain was serving organic food, you know, like homegrown and no pesticides. Anyone know of such a place?

I think it would be cool to have a place that composted the leftover food and served the meals on bio-degradable plates. Probably not so upscale, but environmentally friendly. It could even draw some flatlanders to experience a real GREEN restaurant...

There is one called The Farm in Redlands that relies heavily on a truck garden maintained by the owner/chef. Pricey, eclectic and definitely not a candidate for franchising in our local communities. "Hand crafted foods" is their schtick.

MrWayne, that would be awesome if our mountain community could support such an eatery, I would be a regular( as long as the service was good!) Did you see that place in Los Angeles that grows most of it's vegies on the roof of their building,organically? That's the future, I hope.