No doubt about it, sometimes you’re just in the mood for some good, no-fuss, homemade cooking. Enter Greenhouse Café.

In its unassuming location next to Raley’s in Placerville, the family-owned and operated café serves its tasty breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

With knotty pine, a long counter and a smattering of antiques, the Greenhouse Café is ever the charming country kitchen…complete with outdoor seating. Although the omelets and biscuits and gravy were calling like sirens, lunch was on our minds during a recent trip out with girlfriends. We feasted family-style, starting with a large plate of onion rings; thickly battered then fried to a perfect crisp, and even more divine when dipped in a side of ranch dressing! 

It was then onto Greenhouse’s Cheeseburger, juicy and satisfying, served alongside classic potato salad; as well as the Turkey Club, with thickly cut turkey breast and crispy bacon between layers of toasted wheat bread…delicious with its side of thin-cut fries. To complete the trifecta, we tried the Tuna Melt with Cheddar cheese, tomato and unexpected avocado. The sandwich, grilled to a creamy and cheesy goodness between two slices of sourdough, melted in our mouths. An accompanying cup of the homemade Turkey Noodle Soup was simple and rustic, with chunks of turkey, veggies and fusilli pasta in a hearty broth.  

Although the Greenhouse Café has a tempting selection of homemade pies including chocolate cream, we were all too stuffed to try any dessert. Yet the great thing about a small hometown café, where the owner will most likely remember your name, is there’s always next time!