Still Life Cafe — Restaurant in Bishop

I really dislike giving bad reviews to places. I just try them several times to give a review. Especially because this place is pretty much the only restaurant in the area, unless you drive another 40 minutes..

First of all, I LOvE France, it’s people and their food. I also love practicing my French, which is pretty good considering I have to sprinkle it with English words here and there.::

Heard about this place from some friends of mine. It was always closed every time I went by on my way up and back from Bishop. After one Year constantly passing it, it was open, even though the hours say they are open on line/ I even tried calling a few times but never got a call back thinking they might be open next time I pass by..: I’m wondering if perhaps my first time there they were having difficulties? Or just a bad day? But nope…

Tried this place a few times. I don’t eat pork so there was really only a few things I could order off the menu. Usually wait time to get your food is 1 hour even though they are not busy. I was looking forward to a really good typical French meal like I had in France, not a burger. Speaking of which, we did have a few burgers while in France, and their burgers were similar, but again? Too much pepper- again perhaps a bad day? My friends and I didn’t like our food because of the amount of pepper and salt. I like food where you can taste the spice, but you can also go overboard..:

My French onion soup was terrible- it tasted like bile with too much pepper. Now I have had the real deal in France, and it was nothing like what had in France. I usually suffer through food, but this was so bad I asked them to take it back/ they asked me what was wrong with it, I told them it was nothing like the soup I enjoyed all over France. They were extremely rude and even yelled at me when I told them the soup didn’t taste good especially when it seemed like they had knocked over the pepper pot into the soup. I did pay full price even though the soup was horrible.

Perhaps because they are the only restaurant around they think they can get away with it? The one star is for the art and...

Still Life Café is, without a doubt, the finest dining experience you’ll find within a 100-mile radius—and in the most unexpected of places. I’m so glad my friend, who has been coming here for years, insisted we stop for a leisurely lunch. This is truly authentic French cuisine, as if you’ve stepped into a small village in France. We shared an endive and frisée salad—a welcome dose of fresh vegetables after too many burgers on this trip through the Owens Valley. To all the skiers rushing to Mammoth: slow down and treat yourself to a real meal. We also shared the filet mignon in a rich mushroom pepper sauce, served with pommes frites and a side of green beans and asparagus. Every bite was outstanding. And then there’s the atmosphere. This intimate bistro is adorned with beautiful artwork and photographs, including a dedicated wall featuring portraits of jazz legends. But they don’t just honor them in pictures—the soundtrack is a carefully selected mix of great jazz, making for a perfect dining ambiance. Make sure to get a glass of wine. The selection is curated with real attention to detail and served at the ideal temperature. Chef Malika, who has owned this gem for over 30 years with her late husband, came out to chat with us. She was absolutely delightful, adding a personal touch to an already memorable experience. A true hidden treasure. I can’t...

If you're in a hurry, you may want to go across the street for a sub. This restaurant is about the only restaurant in Independence. The local owner was the only person here when they opened and she cooked everything once ordered, so it's fresh. Later, her daughter came to assist and she became our server.

It was a very inviting experience with delicious food. We had just finished hiking Kearsage Pass, so a tasty steak and wine was the perfect meal. It was served with fries and asparagus, which my husband is not fond of, but still ate about half.

I asked for my steak to be cooked medium well and my husband medium. They were cooked perfectly, in my opinion. 😋

HOURS We got here at 4:50pm and were told they open at 5:30pm. Then, when we were leaving, i noticed their sign says "Open for lunch." 🤔 I'd say have a backup plan if you want to eat here early, just in case it's closed. If you are set on coming here, come after 5:30pm.

They have a small patio with chairs to sit outside, but it's currently closed due to lack of staff. There may also be a 🐕 dog in there, in case...