Grandlund's Restaurant

This place is in such an unsuspecting place at the far end of Yucaipa, off
and off the main strip. It seems such a shame to be tucked away in
such a far away place, when they could really make a name for
themselves in the mainstream of Redlands. For people like me though,
it's fun to take a friend to this secret place, and they always say, "how
did you ever find this place?" With garlands of greenery and whimsical
gifts tucked in every corner, it's like dining in a florist shop. Once you've
looked over the menu and placed your order, it's time to brows cause
nearly everything you see is for sale. Amazingly they redecorate every
season, and devoted customers look forward to their "open house"
when the new creations are unveiled. Behind the hostess desk is a
small ice cream parlor with cold cases filled with creamy delights and a
tiled counter with barstools to sit for a refreshing scoop on a hot
summers day. The fancy dining room tables are each unique with high-
back chairs, giving the place a homey feel. You may even find yourself
sitting with others at a large table which they partition with a floral
arrangements. I frequent it at lunch, Monday's usually, that's the day
they serve their delicious homemade Broccoli Cheese Soup. My kids
particularly love it ordered in a sourdough bread bowl. They made a
good Corn Chowder too. The lunch menu consists mostly of sandwiches.
The BLT Croissant is good, but you can hardly go wrong with a bacon,
lettuce and tomato sandwich. My three favorite's are the curried
Chicken Salad Croissant tossed with grapes, the Chicken Cilantro Melt
with shredded chicken tossed with sour cream and seasonings, ortega
chiles, Swiss and cheddar on grilled sourdough, and the San Franciscan,
a patty melt with Swiss, cheddar and tomato on grilled sourdough, try it
with grilled onions! All sandwiches come with a choice of soup, salad,
potato or pasta salad. My kids like their Summer Fresh Fruit Salad too,
an impressive display of fresh honeydew, watermelon, strawberries and
pineapple surrounding a scoop of sherbet. I'm reluctant to say anything
negative about this restaurant which I totally adore, but the food is hit
or miss. The French Lunch was a nice idea, a warm Brioche, a pastry
stuffed with spinach, mushrooms and cheddar or another with tomato
and basil comes with a choice of soup or salad. The brioche needed
much more filling. The dinner menu is the same as lunchtime with nine
added entrees, which I haven't been too impressed with yet. The
Meatloaf was dry as well as the mashed potatoes and it was all
smothered in a thick brown gravy that tasted just like canned. It didn't
even look good. The Vegetable Quiche was one of the worst I've had,
there wasn't much filling and both the filling and crust were dry and
flavorless, and the Chicken Cordon Bleu was topped with an odd
raspberry sauce that I didn't care for. I'm thinking maybe they should
just stick to what they do best, sandwiches. You know even though I've
discovered some flaws in their food, there is so much about this place
that deserves forgiveness. One can hardly leave here without giving in
to their sweet tooth. Besides a bakery case displaying the day's fresh
baked scones, cakes and pies, there are candy cases along two other
walls filled with Grandlund's handmade chocolates, and even a
sugarless selection. Grandlund's also serves breakfast daily until 11:00
a.m. with such selections as Apple Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, Cheese
Blintzes, Enchiladas, Omelettes and Waffles. They also set out a
spectacular Afternoon Tea, one of the best I've had the pleasure of
enjoying. I highly recommend giving Grandlund's a visit. It's like no
other restaurant I know of, with so many things to please the senses.

Located at 12194 California Street in Yucaipa.

Telephone (909) 790-6266