by Steve LaRosa
photography by Dave Brooks

Big eaters hit pay dirt at this
local spot.

Be hungry. Be very hungry. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

It’s a simple equation. Portly portions of fabulous food equal tall orders of take-home. The Gold Miner Cafe is your dog’s best friend, assuming you’re going to share.

Kay and Rich Gardner took over the Gold Miner in Folsom in 1995 and recently added a second location in Rocklin. It’s like someone ordered up an old-fashioned cafe/diner from central casting, with wholesome food from scratch and waitresses who call you “Hon.” Backstage, the kitchen is staffed by chefs with decades of experience, guaranteeing that consistency and quality reign in both locations.

Let’s get to the good stuff. There’s a great selection of huge bacon/egg/sausage/omelette/flapjack dishes for breakfast. One of the breakfast standouts is the cream cheese-stuffed French toast, which came with cinnamon apples. Both toast and apples were delicious.

Another excellent dish is the country-fried “stake” (their spelling—the mine theme, I guess). Rich tells us they pound out a 6-ounce cube steak that ends up 10 ounces when it hits the plate—but not from the pounding: They dip it in seasoned flour, then egg, flour, egg and flour again, and fry it on a grill. It’s one of the best CFSs in the area. The breakfasts here come with your choice of home-fried potatoes, housemade biscuits, hash browns and other great sides.

At lunch, you might want to consider the impressive meatloaf. And it really is a loaf—of ground sirloin, onions and bell pepper, with a side of housemade mashers, brown gravy and veggies.

The burgers are made by hand, the buns housemade. Add the chili to the housemade list. If you order a bowl, it’s a big boy. If you order the chili dog, you’d better be in training.

Two more little tips: If you choose an egg dish, stop by the “firecracker station,” where you’ll find a great selection of hot sauces. Also, if you have a party of three or four, order the monster cinnamon roll. It’s the best we’ve ever had.

426 E. Bidwell St., Folsom; (916) 983-0609; and 5140 Pacific St., Rocklin; (916) 625-9252; Open 6 a.m.–2 p.m. daily.

Look for Steve LaRosa’s restaurant reviews the first Friday of every month at 11 a.m. on “News10 Midday. “