Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Eating & lodging in Big Pine - suggestions

Has anyone eaten at Rossi's Steak & Spaghetti in Big Pine? Does anyone have any suggestions of other places to eat in Big Pine for dinner? What is the best breakfast place? Should you just drive to Bishop to eat i.e. at Whiskey Creek?

Also, where is the best place to sleep in Big Pine - at a motel/hotel? I've recently stayed at the Winnedumah Hotel in Independence (they now give discounts to climbers), and they were decent (for an old hotel).

I'm going to have another large group from work with me, so I need to prepare in advance...and accommodate everyone.

I haven't been myself, but my wife and her friend raved — raved — about the Still Life Cafe in Independence. http://www.yelp.com/biz/still-life-cafe-independence

Rossi's is an excellent restaurant. Just be sure to check their hours of operation.

For breakfast you can go to the truck stop just south of the gas stations. It has your basic breakfast menu you would see at any cafe. They're usually open pretty early.

Rossi's is very good.I've actually driven down from Bishop to eat there.The cafe Kurt mentioned for breakfast is ok,nothing special.If you want a killer breakfast drive to Bishop to the Petite Pantry.Last time I was there I had so much left over they wrapped it in a big flour tortilla and I ate it for 2 more days.

Rossi's is good and reasonably priced. There is a place for breakfast on the west side of 395 that is good but I can't remember the name of the place.

If you are going to drive to Bishop, I'd suggest going in the other direction to The Still Life Cafe in Independence. Just make sure you bring someone else's AMEX card.

I can't report on how good the food at Rossi's is. I went there, sat down, waited, waited, waited, while tables of locals were seated, waited on, and got their food. Finally I left and went across the highway to the cafe south of the gas station. The food there wasn't very good but it came in a reasonable time.

The cafe next to (south) the Unocal station/truck stop is called Country Kitchen. Lodging - the Bristlecone Motel is OK.

My wife and I were just at Rossi's on the 3rd.

While good, it's a bit "different". Here's how:

There are a total of about ten or twelve items (entrees) on the menu. Nothing else. It's one page. No prices were on the menus up front. They were stapled to the side of the ones brought to the table. Seemed like all the items were around $20.

The entrees are all inclusive. I.e. each includes a drink (non-alcoholic I presume), small salad, slab of bread on a breadboard, the entree, a side (which was pre-ordained as spaghetti in our case), and a small (tiny) scoop of ice cream for desert.

At least, this is what it consisted of for us.

The food was reasonably good; just the form of eating was a little different. If folks in your party are going to be put off by not being able to pick and choose what they want to eat, and the limited number of entrees, this may not be the place for you.

While we appreciated the meal, personally, my wife and I would prefer to be able to customize, so we're in the latter category.

I went to Rossi's a number of years ago, and don't recall that it used this menu method. Seems like I just ordered ravioli and an ice tea and nothing else. I may just not be recollecting correctly though...

HTH.

Rossi's rocks, but is a bit pricey. Uncle Bud's (next to Carroll's Market) is yummo w/ pizza, burgers, salads, etc and is really better priced. The guy who owns it is a caterer who also supports the local HS sports teams.

If you are going to head into B-town head all the way to the north end of town (beyond the Y) and follow 395 to the Petite Pantry. Huge portions, great selection, great prices, and every bottle of wine in the place is $15. Jay, the owner, is a bear-hug of a guy and his wife is a phenomenal chef!

-L

The one time I was there (small sample, obviously) the fare was mediocre, to put it charitably.

The gas station has a kitchen area that, while not the Tioga Mobil, produces good Mexican fare.

That's the place I could not remember the name. It was very good.

Uncle Bud's in on my never to darken it doorway again list. I hope things have changed dramatically since 2001.

The best place to stay in Big Pine is Ray's Den in Independence. No kidding.

The one time we went to Rossi's it was over priced and not very good. The only redeeming quality was the piano player who looked like he just got out of San Quentin. The Country Kitchen is the better option.

Hey T, I rented a house for two days in Independence once, four of us stayed there all in beds, coffee pot, pots and pans, probably hold 6 or more, sofa floor etc. Located on 319 center st. PM me or e mail for the lady's number, not sure if she still rents it.