There is absolutely nothing compelling about this restaurant that would cause you to slow down as you drove by on State Highway 18. We went there because of recommendations from several friends that live in the Apple Valley area… and boy are we glad we did.

It is just over a two hour drive from our home… and we are already planning a trip back … for pan fried chicken. Cut Fresh… flowered and seasoned… and cast iron skillet fried… just like Mom used to make :-)

When we arrived at the modest building on the side of Highway 18… there was not a single car in the parking lot… and it was close to noon. Partially paved parking lot… dusty… windy… must be the high desert.

There is a very pretty mural on the West wall… but the remainder of the building leaves no hint of excellence. A couple of neon beer signs in the dining room window suggest a cold beer is available… and it was… Ice Cold :-)

Inside there was a counter… empty…. scattered tables… and I immediately thought of “Broderic Crawford” in the 1950’s TV show “Highway Patrol”… this could have been a set… but no… they filmed that in “Lone Pine”.

The owner “Letty” was sitting in the back of the dining room… under a crayoned note and photo of her latest grandchild… stapled to the wall… doing her morning crossword puzzle… and no doubt catching up on what was happening in Lucerne Valley.

The restaurant was very clean… and she immediately brought us a menu… offer of a drink… and big smile. I knew I was going to like this place… and I was really hungry. We had been told that the Chile Verde Burrito and Taco combo was great… so already had that in mind. They had some great sounding specials… and the menu is extensive. Their breakfast menu will enduce drooling.

I read through the menu… all sounded great… but I found the recommended combo… and casually ignored that all dinner’s include Rice and Beans. I asked about how hot the Chile Verde was and Leddy told me it vaired depending on the Jalapeno’s … but that she prepared it herslef… it was seldom really hot… and then went to the Kitchen and brought me a little cup of it… with a spoon… and it was incredible. Just the right spice for me… and delicious. I ordered the dinner combo. My wiser half “Terri” spotted the same burrito on the Senior Menu as “1/2 Chile Verde Burrito $5.95”… our order was placed and the ice Cold Coors Light was enjoyed… with Home made Chips and Salsa… delicious.

Another “Senior” couple came in… sat behind us in the other “View Booth” and looked over the menu. Letty approached them and the guy ordered the special on the board over the counter. The daily special was “Two Enchilada of your choice with Garnish $5.95” But Leddy tells the guy… sir… I can see that you are a senior… and that exact same entre is available on the Senior Menu for only $5.25… so you can save $.70. Yeh… I’ve had that happen a lot :-)

Next thing that happened was Letty brought our food. Terri saw her 1/2 Burrito… said Oh My God…. then Letty flopped down my Dinner Plate… and I… and the other couple behind us… all said Oh My God. It was huge. I mean big. It was so big… I took a picture of the doggy box to show how much I could not eat… even though I came in starved.

It smelled spectacular… it looked spectacular. I forgot part of the mission and ate 1/2 of the taco before I remembered to get a photo. It tasted spectacular… five stars for sure.

I ordered a second beer… also Ice Cold… and waded in. Started fast… finished slow… I swear I hurt myself trying to get more of this down. You know… the clean plate thing. Well I gave up… she brought a doggy box before I even asked… and told me everyone commented on her servings… but nobody ever left hungry. That is when she told us about her fried chicken… and even though stuffed… we made plans for the next trip.

Oh yeh… I forgot that the guy behind me retracted his offer to help me out when he got his two Enchilada’s off of the Senior Menu for $5.25.

Tipped over 20%… and the meal was still a fantastic value.