Old Well Motel & Grill

If you want the best burger you ever ate, fresh handmade fries or pie made from scratch that morning do not miss this place! 93 year old Mama made the best fresh strawberry pie just this morning. Pass this place by and you’ve missed the best meal!

NEGATIVE STARS. RUDE. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
Walked in… asked an older lady behind counter if she had a menu so that I could place a to-​go order. She seemed irritated (to say the least). She misunderstood me THREE times. I had to keep repeating myself (raising my voice and speaking slower) in front of nearby patrons (who of course were starring at me). She kept saying she ran out and sold the last one. Then after I re-​asked, she said she’d have to charge me 25 cents for the cup. I WASN’T asking for water or for free water – I just wanted a damn menu to order some freakin’ FOOD! I was so confused!
She finally, with hesitation, gave me the menu – as she had to rudely tell me that she was the only one there… and that there were FOUR tables ahead of me! «So it’s gonna be awhile!» Wow. Thanks?!? Just tell me to leave next time.
My gut tells me that she doesn’t like «my kind” – the non-​white kind. I hate to think that she discriminated against me because of it.
I opened the menu… instantly closed it and said, «Yeah…thanks!» And walked out! There was no way I would ever eat here or let this lady cook me food.
I returned to my car – and told my husband what happened. He was parked right out front since our son fell asleep in his car seat on the way and we didn’t want to wake him to go inside. I seen the lady through the window. Throwing her hands up and grabbing the menu that I left on the counter. She was talking to some girl that was eating at the counter. Probably telling her something about me… whatever… Nothing will justify the way you treated me… what goes around comes around…

Started off with rude customer service was not greeted or sat at a table. The cook was sitting at the counter on his phone and acted like it was a chore to go into the kitchen. Shady random strangers hanging out until we walked in. Fried egg sandwich was a cold tomato with a cold piece of cheese. Denver Omelet had 2 small slices of bell pepper mostly was filled with grilled onions, had no mushrooms and rancid ham. Told the server & we were dismissed.

Normally we love the funky and quaint and can forgive a lot of things, including slow service, but downright rudeness isn’t one of them. I wish I could give a negative star it was that bad. It looks like this place is in trouble as it has a help wanted sign out and was half-​empty at lunch on a weekend.
We’ve been driving past this place hundreds of times over the past 20 some-​odd years and always wanted to eat here but never were near when it was meal time or when we had time to stop. Today we were heading out just to cruise and decided to finally give this place a shot and drove almost an hour down from our place in above Placerville. When we arrived there 3 people working, one at the counter and two in the kitchen. It’s a tiny place so everyone can see everyone. The counter seating had 4 places full of dirty dishes that hadn’t been cleared and there were two empty tables that had been cleared but obviously not cleaned. We stood there just inside the door for several minutes before the lady behind the counter looked up and said in a fairly irritated tone «it’s going to be a couple for minutes, we are really backed up». When my wife pointed to a nearby table and asked if we could sit, she hesitated like she was going to point out they weren’t clean then said in a surly tone «sure, wherever you like» and went back to whatever she was working on which included tabulating checks, apologizing to a couple for overcooked french fries, making a milkshake, getting someone else’s check and other things. The entire place didn’t feel «happy» or homey. It felt very tense inside.
We waited 10 minutes, during which we were never even acknowledged let alone brought menus, a table setting, nothing. She even passed our table several times delivering checks and completely ignored us. We got up and walked out and still nothing was said. We went back up to Plymouth and ate at the Main Street Grill instead for great food and service. I get having a bad day but this was passed that. This place has some great reviews but something has changed.
In short, we drove an hour in anticipation of a great find, were seriously disappointed and will not be back.

I’ll keep this one short. I was driving back from California Caverns after a spelunking trip and was craving good pancakes really bad. It was after 4pm and I couldn’t find any restaraunt besides Denny’s in Jackson that would sill serve breakfast. Finally gave up and stopped at this «hole in the wall» for anything hot.
Our server was very cool and boastEd about the pies and cheesecakes. I asked if I could have pancakes even though it was after noon and she checked with the cook and let me know they were slow enough that it would be ok.
I ordered the Hot Cakes and the ½ pound hot dog, my wife got chicken fried steak. Talk about a huge dog. Hotdog was decent, better than weinwr schnitzel, not as good as Costco/​Sams Club. My wife said the chicken was mediocre. better than Denny’s but nothing special … but the pancakes were incredible. I want to give them 5 stars just for the pancakes. Perfectly cooked just barely beyond gooey. I like my pancakes as rare as possible without being liquid and they really got it down right.
I decided to take a full cheesecake to go, but they only sell by the slice so I settled for a slice. This is where they lost 1 star. I got home to find that’s my $ 4.99 slice of geese cake was barely over 1 inch wide and I felt very ripped off, and the quality was sub par. It’s a sour cream topped cheesecake and tasted like a no-​bake box mix topped with sour cream… not impressed.
If you go there, get the pancakes, avoid the cheesecake. I will be back but I won’t try the pie either after the cheesecake impression.
Guess I failed at trying I do a «short review»

Such a creature of habit I am, I swear I will order something besides a burger and fries when I come here, but alas, its just too good to pass up. But I did try something new by ordering the blackberry pie ala mode and it was amazing of course! TOP NOTCH, with that said… don’t come here if you are looking for hoity toity «foodie» food, this is greasy spoon at its best.

The Old Well Grill is pure gold.
The breakfast selection in El Dorado Hills turned me off to the point that my dad and I just took off toward the Gold Chain Highway– not a care in the world, just hoping to find a nice breakfast shop.
Driving aimlessly we saw this beauty, came to a quick stop, stared for a minute and headed in.
Environment: It’s a smaller shop, seating capacity felt like maybe 20 tops. You see these one and two star reviews with patrons complaining about wait times. I genuinely have waited two hours for breakfast at certain places. You seriously can’t give a place a bad rating if it’s packed and there’s ONLY ONE CHEF.
Speaking about the ONE chef– he is genuinely solid, he’ll look you in the eye and you can tell from his conversation with his patrons that they’re coming back for more than just the food.
The fact that it’s a real-​deal hole in the wall only adds to the appeal of the Old Well.
The Service: our waitress was gracious, attentive, well mannered, and you could easily see that she felt confident with the right attitude. I couldn’t have asked for a better breakfast.
The Food: My father ordered poached eggs, corn beef and hashbrows. The eggs were clearly boiled to perfection.
Perfection means that you bring the water to a rolling boil, add white vinegar, salt, and spin. You drop the egg into the vortex you’ve created, lower the heat, and wait four minutes.
Many chefs can easy destroy poached eggs; over-​cooking, over-​stirring, negligence-​in-​general.
We lucked out: this chef was obviously a pro.
I decided to get the Spanish Omelette with sourdough bread and I was literally scraping my plate clean by the time we were paying for our food.
It was down-​to-​earth food I needed badly– not to mention the chef himself checked on us. (wow)
This is truly a good place.
FIVE STARS.

We had heard what a good place this was. So, on Mother’s Day we took my Mom out to brunch. We ordered and waited… and waited and waited… finally asked what the hold-​up was, and my husband noticed they had just started our meal. We saw the entire restaurant empty and fill back up before we got our food (well over an hour between ordering and receiving our food). I tasted the biscuits and gravy and felt the gravy was very ‘canned’ tasting and the biscuits were stale. I had the pastrami and took 2 bites… it tasted rancid. We so wanted to love this place… we did not… and won’t be returning. Agree with all the postings about it being unclean… if we had not had to wait so long. might not have noticed the dirty so much. Did not even have the ‘friendly service’…

Love their burgers. Edwin is fantastic and the servers are great. can’t wait to come out for the prime rib Monday!

Quaint and rustic are the words that spring to mind when you enter here. The old well has pride of place by the front door. The owner-​cook and staff are very friendly and the Friday night prime rib dinner is quite a bargain. I’d be a fan for sure if the chairs were more comfortable. It’s also fun to watch the finches at the feeders by the windows. It’s small and has a lot of regular, generally pretty talkative customers and you’re likely to hear all the local gossip. If you want a cocktail, there’s a lively saloon right across the street.
On the food, breakfast is good, like you’d make it at home, especially the pancakes, but too expensive. For dinner, I’d skip the combination seafood plate but for $ 13.50 on Fridays, starting at 5:00 you can get prime rib, medium size cut with with baked potato and veggie, with soup AND salad included. The clam chowder is really surprisingly good and the salad crisp. I like their homemade ranch dressing, but not the commercial Italian one. I prefer the beef a little more rare, and with au jus but… not a bad deal!

Whenever I’m lucky enough to be in the area on a Friday night, I insist on stopping in for their famous prime rib special. It’s a huge slab of meat cooked so perfectly that each bite might melt away before you start chewing. Of course, it aids well in the digestion process when owner Eddie comes over and asks how the meal is and jokes with you at the table. It’s that down home country feel you always want in a diner.
Careful though: get there early on a Friday or the Prime Rib sometimes runs out!

As another said, it is a greasy spoon, a little on the dirty side, but with nice people and decent food, though a little overpriced. $ 22 for two breakfasts.

I’m a recent transplant from Chicago. Finding a descent diner with good food in Sacramento has been a challenge. Has anyone in Sacramento heard of a 24 hour diner? (other than Denny’s)
I happened upon the Old Well Diner on my way to Mokelumne Hill. Overall, the service and the food is amazing. Everything is homemade and the pies are not to be missed. The burgers and fries are great.
Each time I’ve gone, Loretta has been my waitress. She’s welcome and inviting as if serving patrons in her own home. I’ve also met the owner/​chef and he is equally inviting and welcoming.

We are locals and this is definately a «local» place to eat. Dinners are great, the special is always «special» On Fridays they have a prime rib special many times. $ 13.99 It includes great clam chowder, a typical iceberg lettuce salad, prime rib, potato, some interesting vegetable and garlic bread. What a deal. They do not serve alcohol, but just step across the street to the Drytown Club before you head to the grill and pick up a beer or glass of red wine. Be prepared for the chef to come out and ask you about your meal…

Stopped here for breakfast on the way back from camping. I’d recommend sticking to the basics when it comes to the breakfast menu. I got two eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, 1 biscuit and gravey and some toast and it was all DELICIOUS. 5 Stars.
My wife got the Spanish Omlette and it wasn’t that great. Too many onions.
Super friendly people working there. I would stop for breakfast again the next time i’m in town.

On our way to Sutter Creek, my friend and I dropped by Old Well Motel & Grill to grab a bite to eat. It was on the way and other than the review my «Mel H.» we had heard good things about it.
I had a breakfast plate of polish sausage, perfect sunny side eggs, and hash browns. Buttered wheat toast with jam and endless cups of coffee made for a perfect meal.

Dropped by on a Friday evening to have a hamburger.
Absolutely awesome.
The hamburger and fries were made from scratch. 100% perfect.
I understand that on Saturdays, they have corned beef which is not to be missed.

Old Well is one of 3 things in Drytown. Blink and you miss it all. I chose this place because the vast majority of places to stay in the Plymouth/​Jackson area are $ 110+/night B&Bs. I wanted to save my money to expand the wine cellar, call my crazy! For 2 nights it was about $ 130, a great deal! A very nice family runs the motel and grill. Private entrance with a parking spot right in front of your room, moderate cooling AC, a bonus fan, private bath with shower stall and local tv access. Upon entering the room I was very happy to find it clean and smoke free. It has a feeling of staying of some kind of Bates Motel — which I thought added to the charm.
The Grill has the best breakfast around. The cook was awesome and came out and chatted with us while we finished up and made us feel at home.
There is a pool (4ft), some shady trees with seats and tables and some grassy areas around the motel for just relaxing. I think you can rent private cottages and option by the week or month also. I great deal overall but don’t forget your phone as there is none in the room (or an alarm clock).