The Lube Room Saloon

The Lube Room is one of those places you can spend hours just hanging around. It’s the perfect place to grab a pint, watch the game, play some pool and just chill.
Food is pretty good too — the clam chowder I got was obviously made from scratch, with big chunks of potato and bacon. The veggie burger is pretty solid too, with a lot of whole beans mixed into it.
Definitely looking forward to coming back here the next time I’m in the area.

This is such a great spot… lots of personality, really great food that can sometimes be hard to find along Highway 4, two cast iron stoves to keep warm, and the perfect place to stop after a snow day up the mountain. Watch the game, cozy up to the bar, grab one of the long family-​size tables, play a game of pool, whatever. It’s very family friendly.
Also, a pretty decent draft selection. My fav meal includes veggies with dip, chicken wings (three types to choose from), and a veggie burger. My husband says the regular burgers are excellent too.

Lube room is a silly name. For a variety of reasons. It makes me laugh a subtle giggle every time I think of the name.
But I’ve had their cheeseburger. Twice. Once with the mushrooms.
The cheeseburger tastes like going down on the virgin Mary. WIth mushrooms.
I’ll eat these cheeseburgers as long as they’ll cook them.
They can call the place anything they want, I’ll buy them and eat them as long as they serve them.

Bob overshot the Calaveras Big Trees turn… earlier I’d promised to buy him a beer. We walked in and the place was dark and loud but I noticed there was a patio out back. I walked to the back door and clearly saw that the property extended out a good ¹⁄₃ of an acre if not more so I asked Bob to bring our cool ones outside.
Once out in the back 40 I was able to see this was a fun filled establishment that included picnic tables, corn hole, and a horseshoe pit. When Bob came with our beer he offered me some peanuts which I readily accepted. Since the ground was covered with wood chips I didn’t feel guilty about dropping my peanut shells. I’d have to say, I’m glad Bob missed the turn– off… we will make this our destination stop when visiting the Big Trees… BTW…Bob can’t wait to try the char BBQ burgers that were flying out of the small kitchen open to the parking lot to accommodate the smoking grill!!!

After so many years it is hard to believe that the Lube Room is finally open again under more realistic management! The place has lost none of its rustic charm as the new owners have had to renovate essentially the entire space since its disaster previous ownership by the «French Canadians»
The food was exactly what one would expect off fresh equipment and clean deep fryers. The beer was cold and the mix drinks were defiantly not on the stingy side.
If they want to stay open in the long run, they will have to ensure that the locals enjoy the place as well. With that In mind here are the things that prevented a five star review:
1) Standing in line to order food?! Do I need to say more? If you hit the bar and there is space to sit you shouldn’t have to get up to not only order your food, but to pick it up as your name is announced over the P.A. system.
2) Slow bar service. When you have to chase down the bar tender or even worse go to the «food line» to order a refill, then perhaps your missing the point of the «Lube Room».
It certainly is better than the last attempt at opening and running a highway pit stop but they need to remember that the Bay Area money is not what is going to keep them alive during the «lean» months.
UPDATE 9-​5-​2015
Omg, the cheese on the burger wasn’t fully melted and that should have been a major warning. My burger was not fully cooked this evening and the chips that were served were stale. Amazing the difference a month or so makes! Service is unimproved (still standing in line to order like a fast food restaurant and have to listen for your name) but now with food that quite frankly isn’t worth the $ 10 cost or 30 minute wait. This has just become the last option rather than first option for dinner.