Mo's Diner

Good atmosphere with mountain charm, friendly people and delicious food. Best food in the area by far. And the tavern is a cool spot to hang out in the evenings with good drinks, music and pool table. While you're there say hi to owners Diane and Bill!!

To begin with, I know people that have traveled two hours just to eat breakfast at Mo's. This tiny diner is actually inside Nelson's Tavern in the mountain community of Camp Nelson. Totally family-friendly (at least during breakfast and lunch - I've never had the pleasure of having dinner there), this is a fantastic greasy spoon type of place. The portions are generous, the prices reasonable, especially considering how much extra it costs to get food transported an hour into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

I must recommend two breakfast items in particular. First, the biscuits and gravy. Available as a side with most entrees, it features golf ball sized chunks of sausage in a thick, flavorful gravy - all over two flaky biscuit halves. Big enough for a meal in itself, it is not to be missed.  

The chicken-fried steak is the meal that is worth burning a half a tank of gas to eat. The biggest such steak I've ever had, it has a wonderful crunchy exterior complemented by a juicy, flavorful middle all covered in the aforementioned gravy of the gods. It comes with hash browns or 'Cowboy' potatoes, one or two eggs any style and a side of toast OR the biscuits and gravy.

If you're looking for something a bit less filling, try the breakfast muffin sandwich. It's filling, yet not coma-inducing. A perfect breakfast if you've got a day of hiking or biking ahead of you.

On a side note, Nelson's Tavern features some of the best Bloody Marys it has been my pleasure to consume. A perfect complement to a fantastic meal.