Ladera Grill

Generally we had a good time and the atmosphere was nice albeit a little loud in the central dining room with high ceilings. Half our party of 8 thought the food was really good, and half felt it was mediocre. The problem was our waiter was not very attentive until we got toward the end of our meal. My menu was snatched out of my hand. I have dairy and gluten intolerance, and I asked for no butter on the Halibut, and it came out dry and not very flavorful. I feel like an alternative could be used instead of no sauce. All this said, I can see why people love this restaurant and the food. My parents loved their filet, and the drinks were amazing.

There is a reason we had a 45 minute wait on a Saturday evening and since we grabbed appetizers and drinks somewhere else, it was worth it! First, we were greeted professionally, and the place is decorated uniquely (wildlife from around the world, but especially bears were represented), and each table had seasonal pumpkin or skeleton hand decorations. Since they didn't have gluten free soups, My husband offered me a bite of their in house made New England Clam Chowder. It was delicious and I wish they'd make it gluten free using cornstarch or arrowroot powder as a thickener instead of flour. They are able to make gluten-free accommodations here! I could have had salad but always prefer to have a hearty meal. The filet here was cooked to perfection, and I appreciated my server obviously having knowledge of the menu but still double checking with the cook staff to ensure what options they had to offer me. Not being able to eat gluten is a pain, but they made it so much better! The creamed spinach was rich and decadent so I had a little (asparagus was a healthier option I didn't choose), and the roasted potatoes and peppers were delicious! We had such a wonderful meal we unfortunately didn't have room for dessert! I was planning to try their flourless chocolate cake but was unable. But I will still very pleased it was offered! It was the best meal I'd had in awhile!