Let’s Dine Out – Cedar Glen Inn

By TIM WILCOX

Special to the Alpine Mountaineer

At first glance, they look like regular customers of Cedar Glen Inn. Roger Rosegrant and Mary Pane are regular customers here but with a remarkable distinction. From Encino with a getaway residence in Cedar Glen, the couple has been patronizing this restaurant since it opened 32 years ago. Even more surprising, they’ve been dining out on this site since 1972, when it was another eatery. They are regular customers in the fullest sense!

 

Cris Bailey opened Cedar Glen Inn with his father and older brother, Scot, in the early 1990s. After the passing of their father, the brothers continued refining their hospitality act, emphasizing home-style cookery at affordable prices. Restaurateurs who’ve been in business for as long as the Baileys are clearly doing many things right.

In his previous professional incarnation, Cris was an industrial X-ray specialist based in Pico Rivera, examining parts for aircraft, missiles “and other stuff you can’t afford to break.” He followed the advice of his father, who’d also worked in the defense industry, to make a major career move. Cris’ parents were living in Lake Arrowhead (his mother on the nursing staff at Mountains Community Hospital), and his father suggested that they open a restaurant in the community. Both Cris and Scot agreed, which proved to be a fortunate, life-changing decision.

Still, Cris is candid about the downsides of the business. The Baileys’ biggest challenge? Cris hesitates for maybe two seconds, then responds, “The State of California.” He elaborates candidly: “Everything they do seems to be pro-employee and anti-employer. That’s made it very difficult for us at times.”

Cris adds that “the rising cost of housing has driven away many of our staff members, which is one of the main reasons we’ve had to stop serving dinner and focus only on breakfast and lunch.”

That said, the positives are significant. “It’s been great to be part of this community and contribute to the local economy,” says Cris. “At the same time, Scot and I have been able to spend a lot of time with our kids as they were growing up.”

Cris’ two children and Scot’s three kids all attended and graduated from Rim of the World High School.

Then there’s the element of repeat business. . . According to Cris: “Having customers come back to us again and again is very satisfying. They become like family members.”

On the Menu

What’s for breakfast here? Pancake selections are led by the Lumberjack ($10.49), featuring three large pancakes, two eggs and bacon or sausage. French toast runs $7.19 à la carte or $9.89 with eggs and sausage or bacon. Varied omelets, averaging about $11.50, are frequent picks. Jumbo cinnamon rolls ($4.89) and biscuits with gravy ($6.89) are popular, too.

According to Cris, though, “Our biggest seller is the Country Combo.” This $11.19 ensemble comprises home fries, eggs, bacon and sausage, all cooked together and topped with melted cheese. On the side: country gravy. Is this a substantial breakfast? That’s a rhetorical question.

Like breakfast, lunch is served from opening to closing. Handheld meals predominate, and all sandwiches and burgers come with your choice of regular fries, seasoned curly fries, red potato salad, macaroni salad, pasta salad or cole slaw.

Eight specialty selections, most tagged at $12.59 or $12.69, lead the sandwich slate. As an example, Twin Peaks stars turkey, bacon, avocado, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato on your choice of bread. Deep Creek features ham or roast beef cooked in barbecue sauce and served on a French roll. And Kuffel Canyon is a classic French dip with roast beef on a French roll with traditional au jus.

There’s pasta as well, ranging from $10.99 to $13.29: spaghetti, cheese tortellini and chicken Parmesan. And 17 items on the kids’ menu average about $6.

Sunday brunch is a big deal here, as you might imagine. Among the offerings are Balboa-style French toast, charbroiled pork chops, New York steak, traditional eggs Benedict and “Smokey Mountain” Benedict (served with a charbroiled pork chop). Each comes with fresh-baked muffins and cheese potatoes. You also get to choose between two glasses of champagne, a champagne cocktail or a glass of juice.

How much for this week-launching gustatory celebration? A truly surprising $15.99. That tag reflects the Baileys’ pricing philosophy from day one 32 years ago. As Cris expresses it, “We’ve always believed that it’s very important to make our food as inexpensive as possible so that our customers consistently feel they’ve gotten the best values for their hard-earned dollars.”

Cedar Glen Inn: 28942 Hook Creek Road in Cedar Glen; (909) 337-8999; first come, first served; major cards; $1.99-$15.99; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily (including Sunday brunch).