Let’s Dine Out – Victoria’s Family Restaurant

By TIM WILCOX

Special to the Alpine Mountaineer

You won’t find a more-focused, harder-working restaurateur in the mountains than Iris Hernandez. That’s a bold claim. Here’s why it’s credible: Since opening Victoria’s Family Restaurant in Arrowbear Lake shortly after Thanksgiving of 2022, she hasn’t taken a single day off. This isn’t a boast by Iris herself. It’s an eyewitness report from one of her five daughters, Mariana, who works at the restaurant as a server four days a week.

“It was so important for me from the first day that everything be just right for my customers,” says Iris, who’s co-owner with her husband, José Arturo Mejia. “It still is.”

Born in Guatemala, Iris made the big move here in 1991. She and José raised their daughters in Crestline. But her home away from home (and now literal home as well) was Rimforest – specifically, The Cottage restaurant. For some 30 years there, from about age 14, she was a dishwasher, server and eventually cook.

Iris reveres the late Carol Ferri, who as owner taught her everything. When The Cottage was about to close in late 2022, Iris heard that the site in Arrowbear Lake (formerly Blondie’s restaurant) was available. Encouraged by her family and loyal customers, she and José decided to open Victoria’s.

“I wanted to help some of my family members and co-workers at The Cottage who were going to lose their jobs,” says Iris. They came with her to Victoria’s. So did many of her faithful customers – some of whom now motor to Arrowbear Lake from as far away as Crestline’s Valley of Enchantment and Big Bear. (FYI, mountain residents can claim a 15 percent “locals appreciation” discount every Thursday.)

According to Mariana: “My mother knows them all and always greets them warmly. It’s part of our Latin culture to be hospitable and treat our customers as family.”

As for her seven-days-a-week commitment to the restaurant, Iris says: “It’s fine with me. I love being here. I love our customers. So it’s OK.” And what about a vacation? “Not yet,” she responds. “Maybe someday.” 

On the Menu

Iris brought to Victoria’s not only three decades of acquiring and refining a wide range of kitchen arts, but also much of The Cottage’s menu. She’s had a lot of practice, obviously, and is a superlative chef. So is José, who shares lead-cook responsibilities.

The bill of fare is extensive, to say the least, embracing breakfast, lunch and dinner selections. Twelve omelets, averaging $16.99, lead the breakfast slate. The Iris Supreme is a fail-safe pick, featuring Ortega chiles, seasoned ground beef, cheese, sour cream and guacamole. Generous egg platters ($11.50 to $20.99) are built around the likes of seven-ounce steak, bacon, sausage, country-fried steak and ground-sirloin patty. Three burritos, huevos rancheros, waffles, pancakes and French toast round out the breakfast lineup.

Nearly 30 sandwiches, subs and burgers appear on Victoria’s lunch menu, tagged between $12.99 and $19.99. A few examples: clubhouse, turkey melt, BLT, eggplant Parmesan sub, barbecue-pork sub, grilled-chicken Caesar sub, California turkey sub, teriyaki mushroom Swiss burger, Ortega chile Swiss burger, Firehouse burger with jalapeño peppers and guacamole bacon Swiss burger.

Dinner features a bunch of appetizers, such a fried zucchini ($9.99) and multi-ingredient verde fries ($14.99), plus generous salads, such as grilled chicken and classic chef’s (half order $13.99, whole $17.99).

Three chicken choices – Piccata, Marsala and Parmigiana ($24.99 each) – are main-course standouts. So are a dozen pasta picks that Iris identifies as her signature dishes. Classic Italian fare? Yes, indeed! For example: shrimp scampi linguine, fettuccine Alfredo Florentine, spaghetti Bolognese and eggplant Parmigiana with penne. The average tag is $19.

Naturally, Iris and José are highly proficient in Mexican cookery, too. Among the options are shrimp fajitas ($24.99), chile relleno and verde ($19.99 apiece), carne asada ($24.99) and fajita trio (beef, chicken and shrimp, $25.99). Rice, beans and chips with salsa are the standard sides. Tortillas accompany many of the orders.

You may be wondering about the restaurant’s name. It honors Iris’s youngest daughter, 4-year-old Victoria.

Mariana laughs and says, “She’s clearly the favorite.” Iris simply flashes a maternal smile and wordlessly reveals that all of her daughters – Edith (management, hiring, bookkeeping), Diana (server), Mariana (server), Kristy (13 years old) and Victoria – are nothing less than precious to her. The natural response, in Spanish: “¡Por supuesto!”

Victoria’s Family Restaurant: 33227 Hilltop Blvd. in Arrowbear Lake (Hwy. 18 two miles east of the main Running Springs intersection); (909) 939-0103; reservations for parties of nine or more; major cards; $2-$25.99; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri.- Sun.; catering for special events.