Chocolate walls mixed with black accents; a long, rectangular mirror surrounded by small framed pictures highlighting the back wall; dining room seating on the left, bar seating on the right.

Welcome to The Independent Restaurant and Bar, an urban dining establishment situated in the heart of Placerville. The owners describe it as American-fusion cuisine – small outtakes on the best of American cooking.

Middle of the week and my dining partner and I had a short wait for a table. So, with time to kill, we headed over to the bar where we were delighted with our Cosmo and Lemon Drop…and our new favorite bartender. Table ready, we were lead to the dining room and began our adventure with an appetizer – Asiago Garlic Spread. The house-made sage flatbread was cut into small wedges that we lathered with the fantastic spread. Did I say delicious? Just tell me when this will be ready for retail sale!

After taking a few minutes to breathe and watch the tables continue to fill, our entrées arrived. My Buttermilk Fried Chicken was laid out on a bed of Cheddar grits, Swiss chard and roasted garlic. It was breaded and lightly crispy on the outside with moist, tender chicken on the inside.

Mouthwatering. My partner’s entrée of the Grilled Wild Salmon seemed to delight her also. It arrived glazed in a white peach Port beurre blanc and rested on a bed of seasonal vegetables and fingerling potatoes. She described it as fresh and moist, as it disappeared rather quickly. Our meals were then topped off with a tasty Crème Brûlée.

The Independent is newly opened as of Fall 2011. Quality food, friendly staff, and attention to detail will definitely keep me coming back for more!