Food wonderful, wait excruciating
DESCRIPTION: Looking for a restaurant to break up the long drive from June Lake to LA, we decided to check out the Still Life Cafe. Quaint on the outside, quite comfortable inside. Two tables were seated with patrons. Our party of three was seated immediately but had to wait 20 minutes for our order to be taken (2 salads and a steak dinner). Finally, 48 minutes after ordering, our dinner arrived. As annoyed as I was, I have to say that the meal was quite exceptional. Everything was perfect food wise. If I was staying the night in Independence or didn't mind having my 5 hour drive become over 7, I would go back again. The chef knows how to prepare a great tasting meal. I am not expecting "fast" food, but how long does it take to prepare a steak and some small potatoes? How long would it take with more patrons?
DATE: 2004-12-31
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 4
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Ribeye Steak, Nicoise Salad

OVERPRICED, OVERCOOKED, AND TIMED OUT
DESCRIPTION: We had the "privilege" of eating dinner at the Sill Life Cafe in Indenpendence, CA on Saturday, March 12. The menu looked interesting (French led the day), and warned of a "30 to 50 minute wait for food cooked in the chef's own inimitable style". Well, after 2 and 1/2 hours, we still hadn't seen our entree. We would have left after an hour or so but it's the only real restaurant in town and we were tired from a long trip so didn't want to drive the 15 miles to Lone Pine. BIG MISTAKE!! When the food finally arrived, my salmon filet was overcooked and dry, something the delicious sauce failed to correct for. My brother's "Fruit de Mare" promising scallops and shrimp, had one scallop and only a few shrimp in a bed of mediocure pasta. For $25 a meal, one expects quality and service, especially from such a restaurant with pretentions of being "oh so French and oh so gourmet." NOT!!! Oh, and to comment furthur, the tables were stacked on top of each other in rows along the sides of the building. No privacy in conversations and you ended up almost rubbing elbows with adjacent dinners. Very Strange, and totally unnecessary since the tables could have been positioned with style across the adequate floor space.
DATE: 2005-03-13
FOODRATING : 2
SERVICERATING : 4
AMBIANCERATING : 6
OVERALLRATING : 2
RECOMMENDED DISHES : Water

A diamond in the desert.
DESCRIPTION: Not only a place where the food is good but a place to relax and enjoy the fine wine and good hostitality.
DATE: 2004-04-15
FOODRATING : 10
SERVICERATING : 10
AMBIANCERATING : 10
OVERALLRATING : 10
RECOMMENDED DISHES : wine with dinner