Outstanding delicious, super friendly, lovely spot on the way to Palomar Mountian. Â My friends and I had a "mountain" salad with fresh vegetables & amazing Italian dressing, the best pozole soup I've ever tasted (& I've tasted a lot), grilled three-cheese sandwhich & huevos rancheros. Â We got Italian wraps & chocolate chip cookies to go which were outrageously good. Â Everything was delicious, fresh & made with a twist that was magical delicous-ness. Â I'm a vegetarian who frequents all the hot spots in L.A., I wish this were closer to me everyday! Â YUM! Â Do not miss this place on your trip up the mountain a must !!
Review Source:What a life saver and center of life on Palomar Mountain. Appears to serve, locals, transients, international tourists, internationally recognized astronomers, and biker gangs with the same inviting menu and gracious hospitality. Try the pozole. If your camping on the mountain - head in for breakfast instead of firing up the Coleman.
Review Source:I ordered the club sandwich. Â It was not outstanding but it was filling and fairly tasty. Â One of the day's specials was a BBQ sandwich, so we ordered it to take with us. Â It was much better than the club sandwich but a little more expensive (almost $10). Â This was my second visit to Mother's Kitchen. Â I really appreciate this vegetarian restaurant in a remote but beautiful place and I would definitely recommend it.
Review Source:My first review was eating here as a non-vegetarian and I quite liked their food. Â
Since then I am now Vegan and here is where there is a difference. Â The guy behind the counter had no idea what Vegan was... I had to tell him I wanted the grilled veggie wrap to go, but no cheese or dairy. Â
I guess he didn't realize that sour cream was dairy. Â :(
So I still like the place for what it is and think it deserves the same 4 stars. Â But I wish they were a little more understanding of the difference between VEGAN and VEGETARIAN. Â Â It is easy to grasp... and I know it sounds like I am talking down to someone, but understand I am not. Â I am just trying to explain this without sounding like a sanctimonious twit and I am pretty sure I am failing. Â :) Â VEGANs do not eat animal products. Â If it came from an animal... egg... mile... butter... cheese... meat.... and even honey... Â we do not eat it.
But on all other points... good food, great service and an institution for bikers and sportscar dudes riding/driving Palomar... they rock.
The last thing I expected to find coming down from Palomar Observatory was a really fantastic vegetarian restaurant, but I'm so glad I did! The place has a great feel, almost like you really are in "mother's kitchen," and the food is really wonderful. I had the quesadilla supreme, and it was plain fantastic! I especially recommend the homemade salsa, which was the best I've had in a long while. Overall, a very nice, welcoming place, perfect for a lunch stop. I only wish I could have stayed for dessert!!
Review Source:From the moment we walked in the people behind the counter were friendly and prepared to answer all of our questions. Â
I had pancakes and veggie sausages and they were both delicious.
My girlfriend had vegetarian chili and said it was amazing.
Desserts looked yummy, but we were too full from our meals. Â We'll have to save room for them the next time we visit the Observatory.
This is my favorite vegitarnian food around. Â The chili is awesome and extreamly filling. Â All the "burgers" are good and very flavorful. Â My husband loves the fried egg sandwhich the best I love everything there so its hard to pick a favorite though I will say the peanut butter cookies are especially good. Â
Lots of vegan options too.
Check it out.
In answer to Wark's " Nice spot to kick back a few gatorades and make another run down the mountain. No gas station there, which sucks... food is expensive, cops hang out there sometimes. Oh well... it's a place to sit and BS, smoke a few cigs and hydrate before you roll out... thats about it. " His attitude and review history should speak for themselves, the guy's a self-centered wandering hater. Mother's is a restaurant, not a gas station; Dont knock it for that. They dont sell gatorade, so that comment reflects that he uses their parking lot for a break. Food is not cheap, but not "expensive", plus, refills are free. I asked, the lady said, "thanks for asking ;)" Cops may be a problem in Mexico, but cops are not a problem here. Its a restaurant so no, Andrew, we dont smoke there. Their food is authentic and creative, their drink selection is good, the brownies are large and worth the ride. There's always a table to relax at, the juju is good inside. It doesnt get five stars from me because it limits its hours and in the winter, I miss having access to its welcoming Mother ness.
Review Source:If you care about being American and supporting your local economy, and actually being conscious of what you put in your body...than you will love Mother's Kitchen. Â This place has become a weekly date spot for my bf and I, we go on weekdays so it always seems so quiet and quaint. Â We drive by Harah's and the Valley View casino to take a cruise up the mountain, grab a delicious healthy bite before taking a nice hike or checking out the observatory. Â Being from Michigan, doing activities like these for my dates increases my appreciation for this beautiful Golden State of ours. Â If you go, you must try the club sandwich and the chili.
Review Source:Tastless vegetarian food with mediocre baked deserts. Â We avoid this place and head to Santa Ysabel Casino to eat and make a donation to the tribe via gambling. Â Then, we tool down to beautiful downtown Santa Ysabel to have some Julan pie with cinnamon ice cream. Â Sure, its' a drive from Palomar but at least they offer choices to their customers that are sorely lacking at this place.
Review Source:Yes -- what a surprise
on my second trip up the mountain to park and observatory
I Â reluctantly decided to go inside and see the menu -
I has a hungry 6 year old and a friend in the car  ..
Thinking I would be seeing the "standard" steak / burger / chicken
joint especially this far out of town ---
Instantly upon entering I recognized the AROMAS Â
Fresh - Â Home Cooked and yes surprise totally VEGETARIAN
at 5000 feet elevation I guess I was close to heaven
Mother's has a eclectic menu including vegetarian chili, vegetarian lasagna, veggie burgers sandwiches, smoothies and a great bakery! Â
did not know where to start -
We had four meals for three people and shared most everything
Salad , Veggie Burger , Vegetarian Chile  , Quesadilla
my daughters Veggie Burger came with fresh tomato , lettuce and
avocado slices --- Great
The veggie chile was a greta portion and very well done -- fresh
Myself I may have liked it a bit spicier , but we need to please the masses and the grub was great  ....
leave room for the BAkery Yummies ---- excellent pies !
inside seating is warm -- lodge like
outdoor dining is park like  !!
Everyone was extra friendly and helpful and why not they work in paradise ....... Â The bathrooms ARE outside in yet another building
plenty of  motorcyclist racing up and down the mountain with their rice burners  -- along with the touring Harleys  this is the PIT STOP
THIS IS A MUST STOP WHEN YOU IN THE AREA
Mothers gets 5 ***** because like most I was so Surprised - Floored
It's surprising that this restaurant is so good considering that they literally have no competition being located on top of Palomar Mountain. Â I think I had been eating there one weekend a month for about a year when someone pointed out that it was a vegan restaurant. Â I had no idea. Â Most of the clientele consists of motorcyclist, campers, and road cyclists. Â My favorite dish is the chili nachos, but you wouldn't know it to be vegetarian.
Review Source:This is the perfect little gem of a restaurant! I was trying to find an escape from So. Cal and Palomar Mountain was the closest spot so I put my grumpy 11 year old who'd rather spend all day online in the minivan and trekked up the mountain knowing this little restaurant was close to the observatory. I read good reviews and they were right, this is definitely an original comfortable place to enjoy the scenery. I uploaded a view from our table so you can see the beautiful view of the trees. This is as far away from a chain restaurant as you can get with a homey cabin-like interior, all wood from ceiling to walls to tables, fire place, sweet decor, clean and comfy. The food is down to earth honest food with real ingredients. It's vegetarian but not vegan, a good selection of foods you are used to eating like mac n cheese, lasagna, quesadillas etc. Â I am thinking about taking my family back up to stay in some local cabins once the snow arrives and this restaurant is one of the main reasons!
Review Source:This is an adorable little place and the only eatery or store anywhere near Palomar Observatory. It has a very limited menu but it's all comfort type simple food definitely suitable for children. We stopped in right before they closed on a Saturday afternoon and got the Mac n Cheese bowls and a slice of apple pie a la mode. The other two in my party loved the Mac n Cheese but I thought it was just OK. I tend to be a bit hard to please with that particular dish though. The apple pie on the other hand was excellent! If you're going to or from the lovely Observatory, stop here for the pie! If you're going to eat in the charming outside patio area, bring a hat and bug spray. This is a rural mountain area so you should expect lots of small flying things around your head.
Review Source:Awwww Mother's Kitchen. A little piece of hidden heaven, up near the Palomar Mtn. observatory.
The first time my husband (boyfriend back then) and I, came across Mother's Kitchen was in 2006, when I was visiting my boyfriend in Temecula, when I was living and going to school in Los Altos. I had been taking an astronomy class and he wanted to surprise me by taking me up to the Palomar Mtn. Observatory. Well it happened to be closed, as was the rest of the town, but we did see Mother's Kitchen resting peacefully in the row of old buildings, vowing we'd come back someday.
Fast forward 3 years to November 2009), when we made another trek up to Palomar Mtn. (and I'd been living here in Temecula since June 2007), and my boyfriend and I ventured up to Mother's Kitchen earlier in the afternoon. We entered the quaint building, and saw a wide array of folks enjoying coffee, desserts and and your typical lunchtime staples. Little did we know, there was nothing typical about the food here. Our lovely hostess Ananda Roy (sp) informed us that everything was vegetarian and the club sandwich was made with bacon bits. And that she loved the scent of my lotion that I had on. We didn't mind one bit about the vegetarian meal, especially because they served my favorite Rose' by Beringer, and I ended up ordering the club sandwich and a cup of split pea soup, while my boyfriend ordered the chili and the veggie lasagna. Boy oh boy, we loved every bite! It was so tasty and fresh and really made with love=) Such a simple menu, but for us indecisive folks, the simpler the better. Â My boyfriend is definitely a meat and potato's kinda guy but he was completely satisfied without the meat this time.
After we finished our meal, I decided to give Ananda Roy the bottle of my Vanilla Bean Antibacterial Lotion from Bath and Body Works (figuring she might not get off the mountain much) and she was ever so thankful. Well the good karma paid off, because after we left Mother's Kitchen, we drove to one of the nearby lookout points, and my boyfriend proposed=) We have been married since December of this last year, and will definitely be making at least annual trips to Palomar Mtn. and of course Mother's Kitchen.
This place is one of a kind and absolutely wonderful to visits. Oh and you might catch some snow, like we did in November 2009, which is an extra special treat=)
P.S. We did make another trip back, on New Year's eve, and had some desserts. The pies are fantastic and truly homemade (especially the pecan) and the other cookies/brownies are out of this world!
Beautiful scenery and perfectly manicured roads on a glorious Spring afternoon. What more could one want?
Mother's Kitchen.
If the view wasn't breathtaking enough (I'm talking about the bikes parked in front), the kitchen does a great job of providing riders with a comfortable stop along a pleasantly challenging road.
Bakery goods and refreshments are found here along with some simple kitchen dishes (eggs, sandwiches, etc.). Bear in mind though that this IS a Mother's and by definition, is Vegetarian.
It's great for what it is and any cozy stop along a flawless stretch of asphalt deserves at least 4 stars.
Humble and comfortable seating inside and outback. Restrooms are to the side and at the other end, a little shop in case you wanted something for the road.
It was my first time on this stretch and Mother's Kitchen was a nice surprise. I'll be returning before too long.
Let me start by saying that the missing 5th star isn't a result of what Mother's has; instead, it reflects what the place doesn't have - tasty flesh products. I'm omnivorous, so I'd prefer to have meat options, but I have to say that they do a pretty good job of distracting you from what they lack. The chili, a dish that cries out for flesh, is remarkably good. And the pea soup, which should always have ham (right?), does very well without it, as well. I haven't yet tried the mac and cheese (next visit) or the nachos, but others seem to enjoy them. Another negative - the bathrooms aren't the best. Still, well worth a stop if you find yourself up on the mountain.
Review Source:I have ate here a few times. The first time I had no clue it was a vegetarian place. I went in and ordered the chili. It was pretty tasty. Â A few weeks later I was camping again and decided to try the chili and a salad... both were just what I needed. I would have gave them 5 stars, but hey, I am a meat eater...
Because of yelp, I will be trying their hot chocolate this Saturday.
Its hard to tell whether the food here is good or if its the appetite toward up from riding 4000+ vertical with 3 of my closest friends. Â Whatever it was the food tasted great and the folks who worked here understood me as I hobbled around in shorts drenched with so much sweat that I might as well have peed myself. Â Despite the fact that I could not speak coherent sentences a pleasant blonde woman just smiled at me as as made up my mind and when I couldn't decide between the Chile and Lasagna she offered me a little of each with a bottomless beverage. Â This allowed me to rehydrate re cooperate and get my mojo back for the remaining 25 miles of the journey. Â Despite the crowds we never felt rushed. Â Despite our stench we never felt unwelcome. Â Admittedly we chose to eat outside, but that was because the outside eating area was an idyllic woodland setting. Â Even our Vegan Colleague was satisfied. In summary: Culinary diversity, diverse clientelle, local flavor, friendly service, nice outdoor eating area, food tastes good= five stars.
Review Source:One of the best vegan places in So Cal out in the middle of the Palomar Mountains. I love the everything here, especially the tacos. If you just like good healthy food and don't ride Bike you still should come try this place. If you do ride sport bike this be one of your favorite places to go after trying it because it's so much fun to go there.
Review Source:I was shocked to find vegetarian options on the menu, let alone that the whole menu was vegetarian. I was in the middle of nowhere, for Pete's sake, heading to a telescope that gazes out into the middle of absolute nowhere. What were the odds?
The counter clerk warned me that the chipotle "meat" tacos I was about to order were spicy. Yeah, they had some kick, but they needn't come with a verbal warning. I still poured Tabasco on. And they were damned good, totally hit the spot on the cold, foggy day. Only complaint is that nachos are not a side dish. Rice and beans or even a salad would be better. But the tacos themselves were quite good. If you're in the area, definitely stop by.
HAHA! What a pleasant surprise! Â You see - you gotta love stereotypes. Â This restaurant is a pit stop for all the motorcycle enthusiasts that ride Palomar Mountain, so you'd think Mother's Kitchen would serve up the tastiest and most delicious burgers, right? Â WRONG!
It's a veggie restaurant - using Boca products (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FBoca_Burger&s=20e7d82a62d42a76cbedb868a25987b67fda36573218cb14ed82d86ef171ca94" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/…</a>), but don't let that mislead you because the menu was perhaps one of the most flavorful that I've ever had.
I recommend the "nachos supreme", and the "chipotle boca tacos" - two soft tacos filled with spicy Boca Chipotle "Meat", lettuce, salsa, and sour cream. Â Yeah, it's fake meat, but damn - it was good. Â Plus some tabasco helped. Â
So don't let the vegetarian menu mislead you. Â They have a steady clientele of biker dudes, and crotch rockets - who don't mind Boca burgers. Â Welcome to the 21st century.
Holy Mother, good food in the middle of nowhere! Â I took my parents here after a visit to the Palomar observatory. Â As they are Midwestern carnivores whose diet consists primarily of bacon, beef, and pirogies washed down with a nice hot pot of coffee, I was expecting some consternation at the prospect of a vegetarian restaurant. Â My parents contented themselves with "burgers" and were blissfully unaware that their meals were crafted deep within the top secret flavor factories of Boca. Â
In case you are wondering which variety of veg-X restaurant this is, it is ovo-lacto vegetarian. Â The egg and cheese sandwich is delicious and made me forget my own carnivore leanings. Â The bread used for sandwiches and sides is delectable with our table getting a nice dark rye and a 7 grain number that was a meal in itself. Â The soup was spicy -- easily the best split pea soup I have had in my life, with rich flavors of roasted cumin and oregano (I'm guessing). Â Definitely a recipe I will try to reconstruct at home.
Service was friendly and welcoming. Â Prices are a bit high (~ $9 for a sandwich) but the food is worth it -- a welcome surprise on Palomar mountain.
This is a little slice of heaven (and in one of the highest places in San Diego County!!!!)
It is located just at the summit of South Grade and East Grade Roads, and is heavenly for anyone cyclist stupid enough to try to climb this mountain on their bicycle.
Today I went up, and it was nice enough at the base (about 72 degrees maybe) but it was in the clouds and chilly up top. Â It was wonderful to stop in and get a cheese omelette and HOT coffee. Â I was pleasantly suprised at the quality of both ... and that was not just the tired hungry cyclist in me talking ... it was darn good food.
This place is the best. You don't get a better location. The top of Palomar Mountain. I have been here many times. That it is at the end of the best road in SoCal doesn't hurt. The food is good quality and the place has a rustic ambiance. It is worth a stop. You can continue up to the observatory. An interesting visit.
Review Source:Ok so I have to admit, I'm a carnivore. Â Once upon a time, you would have never convinced me to visit a vegetarian restaurant without some sort of kicking, screaming, fuss, conniption, or pinky sworn assurance that I would be able to go to In-N-Out immediately afterwards. Â Well that was all well and good until I ran out of options atop Palomar Mountain.
Anyone that knows Palomar Mountain knows that this place is a wee bit of a Mecca for sport bike riders. Â Well sport bikes are a favorite pastime of mine and have put me on Palomar Mountain on a regular basis. Â So you basically have no room to pack a lunch on a sport bike and the next closest food spot is some taco shop almost down to the casino. Â So I was hungry and I tried it. Â And you know what. Â It ain't bad.
I actually dig on the boca burger but my heart lies with the quesadilla. Â This thing is overflowing with cheese and the chips and salsa are a nice touch! Â Quality and fresh ingredients! Â Plus the prices are not terrible! Â
I would normally give this place 3 stars but there is one thing you must know. Â I'm not sure why or how, but this place has THE BEST FREAKING HOT CHOCOLATE I HAVE EVER TASTED. Â It may have been I was just freezing, it may have been that there was snow on the ground, it may hav ebeen that I was relishing in the fact that they were actually open. Â ......
......but it may just have been that the stuff rocks.
This is one veg joint I'm stoked on and I'm glad it is my only option!
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