With a fresh, modern feel, the upscale restaurants and boutiques at El Dorado Hills Town Center create a tangible vibe suitable for a morning coffee, stylish lunch, or classy evening escape.

Right in the center of it all sits an unsuspecting botanical bistro: a quiet oasis filled with delicious bites and tasty flights. Almighty Bistro immediately brings a sense of freshness as you walk in. Over 80 thriving plants hang from the rafters and massive amounts of natural light pour in from a wall of windows at the entrance, making the air seem just a little bit cleaner and the light just a little bit warmer.

We sat amidst the verdant ambiance, taking notice of the full bar where a man sat chatting with the friendly bartender. On this rainy day, hot tea seemed appropriate, and we were happy to learn that the tea comes from Tea Xotics, another Town Center small business. 

On our visit, the menu, which changes seasonally, was inspired by Cuban/Latin American fusion fare, where we could order both Mexican-inspired mole and a Cubano sandwich under one roof. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that everything is gluten-free and dominantly local, so you can be confident the entire menu is healthy, fresh, and made with love. And you would expect nothing less coming from the same owners of Milestone. 

We asked our waitress for recommendations, and she quickly suggested the albondigas soup (meatballs) and blistered shishito peppers to start.
For mains, we chose the Almighty chupe de mariscos, a Peruvian-inspired seafood soup, and their special: the Almighty holy mole with beef, which takes over 25 hours to prepare from scratch. It was love at first spoonful for the soup; I was delighted by the light, crisp flavors of the seafood paired with the warmth of the sweet potatoes, bacon, and coconut milk. A touch of lime and lemongrass provided a welcome, tangy touch.  If you love seafood, this should be top of your list. The gluten-free toast that accompanied it was also incredibly tasty; so much so, I was tempted to order more.

The mole was served atop a serving of locally sourced, perfectly cooked beef with a side of cauliflower rice, mushrooms, and peppered onions. Considering mole is such an involved dish, I hoped it would be the star of the show here, but the petite portion neatly dressed over the beef, while delicious, left me craving more. Coming from a family where mole was a holiday staple, I was disappointed there wasn’t enough to enjoy in every bite. The rice, however, was remarkable—something I’d certainly return for.

We then moved on to the bread pudding. Honestly, I wasn’t sure how a gluten-free bread pudding would go; much to my surprise, it left me in awe; the “gluten-free” aspect was nearly indistinguishable and tastier than many “real” bread puddings I’ve tried. You’ll be pleased as well.

Overall, Almighty Bistro is a welcome respite with binge-worthy cuisine and environs—a cozy spot where, especially on rainy days, you’ll want to eat, stay, and savor the charm. 

Hours: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (Sunday brunch); 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (Monday-Saturday)

TRY THIS: Blistered Shishito Peppers, Albondigas, Seared Salmon Callaloo, Bar-Mighty Smashburger, Slow-Roasted Heritage Pork Cubano, Safran Lobster Cakes, Almighty Chupe, Bread Pudding

DRINKS: Full bar; beer, wine, & cocktails

TAB: $$

HEADS-UP: Happy hour Monday-Friday from 2:30-5:30 p.m.; menu changes seasonally; Sunday brunch; ingredients are entirely local and organic, meat and eggs are pasture-raised, and everything is 100% gluten-free; oysters served Friday-Sunday; dining room is intimate and cozy (eight tables; six bar seats); heated patio