There's something special about Smokey's Lake Wohlford Cafe. Â Maybe it's that they sell fishing gear. Â Maybe it's the live music on Saturday night. Â Maybe it's the nice view of the lake. Â Maybe it's the pool table. Â Maybe it's the good home cookin', friendly staff, and homey atmosphere! Â If you're up for it, take a cruise up Lake Wohlford Road and hit this nice cafe.
Review Source:This place is a little place right off the lake, We can care less for the service but most of the food is awesome!
The first time we came here my hubby ordered the Flat Iron Steak and it was the worst steak we've ever had. But then again i guess there specialty is the fried fish. The Country Fried Steak is something else i would suggest but just don't order the steak! Waste of money. My husband also was served a warm beer. YUK! Right... And myself was served an off brand root beer that had no carbonation, come to find out they had a better root beer in a bottle but i guess it takes someone to complain to get the real stuff. So if you like root beer make sure you get the ROOT!
 Every time we come here they have this lady running around like a chicken head cut off, trying to attend to a lot of tables. Poor thing, feel sorry because your tips is the fun money and we don't leave enough because we are not attended to like any other place. Also, another suggestion don't go on a HOT day, they have no A/C just fans and the windows all closed in. And remember to go after 4PM they wont serve you dinner if your there a hour early. We left! I think we'll still come back because we're a fan of the CFS and fried cat fish :)
This little small town cafe is fun, friendly and cozy. Â As I am moving away from the area, I am realizing I wish I had gone in here more often before I left. Â The cafe has been under different ownership for quite a few years, and it has made a huge difference in ambience, service and the food! Â Smokey and Phyllis are wonderful hosts, and always there with a smile. Â The food is good and dependable. Â If you want a little taste of the country for breakfast, lunch or dinner -- stop here! Â And the prices are so reasonable you will not only leave with a smile...you will leave with most of your money!
Review Source:Down Home...Good Local Food and People...maybe I should have put the People first? Oh Well. This little café is just a few minutes out of Escondido proper, just across the street from Lake Wohlford...while not exactly a landmark lake...or restaurant that you would know unless you have spent some years in Escondido it is worth a stop.
The Café is indeed a "Old Fashioned Place" in my opinon. No Hostess out front, No flowers on the table...What you do get is a great creeky wood floor...a bar with a few locals, seat yourself ambiance...even a market type counter on the inside selling most everything from fishing licenses and tackle to snacks and nessesities. You also get good quality homemade food and good service. I don't think they catch the catfish across the street...but it is nice to think they do... Is the food Great! No...But it is GOOD and reasonable...and in most cases just what you need, so Don't Argue!
My family and I wandered up here on a lazy Sunday afternoon. There were a few people inside, many of which appeared to be very local...We were promptly greeted by a few friendly people. My 3 year old daughter was even given a house coloring book and container of crayons...which won her over until I informed her she had to give it back for the next child who came in to enjoy . The Catfish sandwich was very good, it had been a long time since I had had cornmeal dusted fried catfish...My wife's grilled sandwich was great as well.
Don't just keep driving...you know who you are! Stop on in and enjoy a good local meal for once!
I hit this place a couple of times a month with a big group, 25 or 30 people and they really do a super job of getting everyone fed. Â The drinks are served right away and the food is not far behind. We've even had a few in our party show up late and they get their food while we're still eating. The fish and chips are very good and the burgers are good also. They put out a pretty good breakfast also. The place ain't fancy but who cares the food is good and the beer is cold and they really take care of you.
Review Source:Mary was great! She was friendly and prompt. The food was hot and fast and tasty. I had a breakfast burrito and their salsa is tasty, although not spicy. The catfish is fresh and crisp. The hush puppies are surprisingly good and I am not a devotee. A great place to lunch after Bates nut Farm.
Review Source:After going to Valley View Casino which to me felt like being inside a giant closet with smokers I was glad to get some fresh air and go down to Lake Wohlford and the Cafe.
The Lake is kind of small but a nice view and very easy to fish from shore.
I ordered the catfish with fries instead of the hush puppies and cole slaw which came to $9.50 for 2 pieces of catfish.
They also have an all you can eat every night for catfish after 4PM for $14.50.
The catfish fillets are cut in half lengthwise and then fried in cornmeal.
They do a very nice job as it has a nice crunch and also is not greasy.
They don't overcook it either as it moist inside.
Really an excellent job of frying the fish.
The fries are your standard frozen variety that you can find at McDonald's or any other fast food joint.
The tartar sauce is homemade and good.
The atmosphere is like an old log cabin and extremely laid back.
I liked it and felt very comfortable.
Great drive out there with the canyons and country setting.
Nice place to go if you go to Valley View Casino and don't want to eat with the thousands of other losers there!
I found this place after a day at Bate's nut farm using, of course, Yelp . I give it five stars because for what you are getting it's perfect.
Fist off it's dive-y for sure and that's part of why I loved it. It's part bar, part restaurant and part bait store! The waitstaff is down to earth and very friendly. I felt immediately at home. The adjoining trailer park is kinda sketch, but I can handle that.
Second, the food. Yum! I ordered the fish and chips and they are by far the best I've ever had! Moist, flaky, and not even a little fishy. Home made tartar sauce was great and such a complement, plus I swear it had a little kick to it.
Third, location. Across the street from Lake Wohlford you get a nice view, but what I really enjoyed was the drive. Smokey's is about 10 minutes away from Bate's nut farm, and Bates is about an hour from San Diego, so your really out in the trees. Perfect for when you wanna little road trip with a good meal as a reward.
I did not have the catfish because I'm a little scared of cat fish frankly. I will have to summon up some courage and try it next time.
BEAUTIFUL back-country ride.....there's Lake Wohlford & its cafe....
This review is on the catfish....period. Â I LOVE fried catfish - if it's done well. Â Here, it's done well. Â Crunchy cornmeal crust, pieces not too big, so they fry up nicely. Â Coleslaw - highly acceptable, a little sweet, maybe a bit wetter than I prefer, but tasty. Â French fries - pretty darn good. Â Didn't have the hush puppies (maybe next time, when the BF's not there, counting all my deep-fried calories....)
All-you-can-eat, Fri.-Sun. after 4 p.m. Â Owners & waitstaff very friendly. Â Other diners' plates looked worth a shot - the club sandwich was enormous - but I'll always go for a goooooood plate o' cats :)
BTW, they're open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
I've been going to Smokey's for um... over 15 years. Â I don't go often (maybe once a year), but whenever I do end up near Lake Wohlford, I always have to stop in for breakfast, and my tummy tum tum is oh so thankful that I did!
What keeps me coming back is not the catfish, which they are supposedly famous for, or the view of Lake Wohlford, which is gorgeous, it is the all you can eat biscuits and gravy. Â OMG, my stomach is growling just thinking about it.
This is definitely a greasy spoon kind of diner (there's even a bait & tackle store as part of the restaurant), but these sorts of dives are usually where you'll find the yummiest food. =)
Like jessica b said...it's not fancy but you know what, it's pretty darn good! Â
We were out wine tasting in Temecula and my son was playing paintball down the road from the Lake Wohlford Cafe (BTW - Mr. Paintball is a great little place if you like to paintball), so we told him, when he was done to walk the 1/2 mile down the road and get himself something to eat.
We met him there, and ordered some fried avocado.  Yep, fried avocado.  Interesting...could have used some lemon aioli  to dip those in, but the ranch dressing was serviceable.  My son had a Rueben  sandwich with slaw, it was well done and tasty.  The owner/waitress was friendly and the food came up quickly.  BTW - the people I was with had been before and I was told the story of her asking for some lemon for her iced tea and the waiter came with it...in the palm of his hand.  Needless to say, she didn't put it in her tea and we didn't ask for any lemon...
LindySez - It's a dive, but there's nothing wrong with that!
somehow, i'm not at all surprised to be the first to review SLW cafe. i've only lived in san diego a little over a year and, as of today, this is the first tradition we have...going to this cafe in october. last october we ate here out of desperation when we got completely lost and couldn't find anywhere to eat- we stumbled across this little cafe on the lake. this year, it was only partially by accident that we ate here again. SLW cafe is directly on the way to bate's nut farm- although, if you're not looking, you'll miss it. there's nothing really fantastic about this dining experience. which, i think, is what makes it so fantastic. its a cafe. the menu is simple. the waitstaff is simple and immediately your new friends. there are very few restaurants where i would think flies seemed appropriate and i'm not bothered that my waitress has dirt under her nails and is taking personal phone calls while serving food- this is not a place looking to impress you (or me). their purpose is to feed their friends and neighbors by day and (judging by the jute box, pool table, bar and small dance floor) entertain them by night. if you can let go of some of your notions of a 5 star dining experience and indulge the idea that a cozy little cafe by the lake with decent food can be a great time....i highly recommend adding this to your try and see list.
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