Let’s Dine Out – Crestline Café

By TIM WILCOX

Special to the Alpine Mountaineer

There’s something noteworthy about March 10. Could it be tied to the start of daylight saving time? Yes, though that’s actually quite mundane – an annual “spring forward” formality. For Amber Crubaugh, at least, this “almost here” Sunday is especially significant because it will mark the second anniversary of her becoming owner of Crestline Café.

Amber is a lifelong local – or nearly so, her family having moved to Crestline when she was about 1 year old. She’s a product of the area’s schools, including Rim High (Class of 2008). Now with her own family – husband Derek and three kids, Emma (18), Ashton (16) and Paisley (10) – she’s firmly and productively rooted in the community.

Her original connection with the restaurant business was in 2014, when George Hoenig brought her on staff at what was then Paula’s Place in Top Town. When George shifted his ownership to Crestline Café in 2015, Amber became an even more important employee, graduating from server to manager.

At some point, George began telling Amber, “Someday this place will be yours,” clearly confident in her daily performance and obvious potential. Amber’s cautious and practical outlook? “I hadn’t planned on that and really didn’t take him seriously.”

Then one day George surprised her with “OK, Amber, it’s time.” And apparently it was, with George refocusing on his primary construction business and Amber becoming the new owner of Crestline Café.

Naturally, that was an enormous financial and personal investment for her, and Amber emphasizes the essential role of family. “My husband is my No. 1 supporter,” she says. “Any venture I go into, he’s right there with me every step of the way. My kids, too, are proud of me, and my older daughter, Emma, works here.”

Along with that priceless family support, Amber shares that she has “an amazing staff” – both in the dining room and kitchen. “They’re so conscientious, and they support me with every crazy idea I have for the menu and other things,” she explains. “That’s part of the privilege of being the owner and part of the fun, too.”

Pausing for a pensive moment, Amber adds: “I have to admit that I’ve had a rough go at times. We were burglarized shortly after I took over ownership. Then last winter with ‘Snowmageddon’ and all the weather drama, we were shut down with a gas leak for about a week. And this year it was vandalism – a big broken window.”

Candidly, she continues: “It seems there are always hurdles to jump over, but I’ve learned a lot in the process. With the support of my family and team, we keep going. It’s been mostly positive, and I’m grateful for that.”

On the Menu

The restaurant’s loyal customers are emphatically positive about the bill of fare. It’s casual American cookery “with a twist,” in Amber’s words. “I try to be creative with a lot of things on the menu, and that’s the twist,” she explains.

Breakfast is served for nine hours every day, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Popular griddle offerings are buttermilk, blueberry, chocolate-chip, banana and pumpkin-spice (seasonal) pancakes; pancakes wrapped around sausages (“Pigs in a Blanket”); waffles; and French toast. The price spectrum: $4.95 to $9.95.

Among the orders listed under “Eggstraordinary Breakfasts” ($11.95 to $15.95) are various three-egg omelets, country-fried steak and eggs, garden scramble, and eggs with top sirloin or ham steak. There’s more. Amber notes that biscuits with country gravy are “an especially big seller” and that “anything with gravy tends to be popular.” The $13.95 Mountain Climber, for instance, features pan-fried potatoes with scrambled eggs, sausage and ham topped with cheddar and jack cheese. Its savory complement? Country gravy. Ditto for the $12.95 Big Texas breakfast burger, featuring ribeye beef patty topped with hotlinks, American cheese and a sunny-side-up egg. Amber’s favorite: classic eggs Benedict.

Lunch at the café is an all-day affair. One-third-pound burgers built around a premium ribeye patty sport names such as Big Kahuna, Ragin’ Cajun, Best Western and The Logger. They’re priced from $9.95 to $13.95.

Sandwiches with a similar price range are more numerous. Amber reports that the Monte Cristo is particularly popular with the restaurant’s regulars. Among other handheld options are barbecue beef, traditional Reuben, grilled chicken with Parmesan and cheddar cheese, steak sandwich, French dip and chicken-salad sandwich with cranberries and cashews.

Meal-size salads include the Abacore tuna, California chef and chicken (fried or grilled) – each tagged at $13.95. A recent innovation is “soup flights,” tempting diners with three varieties rather than just one. The café also purveys a four-flavor flight of mimosas, which serves as a creative twist to its full wine and beer lists.

What about dinner, served from 4 p.m. to closing? In “The Comfort Zone” are fish and chips, country-fried steak, chili spaghetti and chicken tenders ($9.95 to $13.95). More ambitious orders are Louisiana Cajun pasta, lemon-pepper chicken, grilled salmon, sirloin steak and teriyaki chicken with mushrooms. Median price: $15.

Sundaes, floats and milkshakes top the dessert menu along with another intriguing twist that takes about 20 minutes to prepare. This sizzling treat stars three freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies served in a hot skillet and crowned with vanilla ice cream, chocolate drizzle, whipped cream and a cherry. Now, that’s a dessert!

FYI, mountain residents can claim a 10% discount on one meal per card (issued by the restaurant based on driver-license proof). And with giving back to the community foremost in mind, Amber and her team make no-cost selections available to area residents in need. The program is called “Helping Hands.”

Crestline Café: 23943 Lake Drive; (909) 338-4128; first come, first served; major cards and Apple Pay; $1.95-$16.95; 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri.-Sat.