Garden Cafe

Whoa, even though they are closed for the season for dinner, you need to head over the the Columbia Nursery Garden Café ASAP once it reopens.
This is like a pop-​up restaurant under the oaks at the garden center during the warmer months. I came by at the end of the last service with my best friend Dana while visiting the area, so we got the last meals until spring. You walk to the back of the garden center where they have tables, chairs, screens and lights strand about. However, the seating was very uncomfortable (BYOC — bring your own cushion?) so we stole some others when another party left.
Service was friendly but a bit slow, which is perfect for a late summer evening but not when hungry. Our food took some time to get out. The issue is just having the single wait staff and chef, but I like the homespun feel of the operation. Prices were very reasonable with quality, fresh ingredients.
I ordered a chicken with relish sauce on rice with mango salsa, which came with a very fresh and likely local and organic salad. I liked the salad despite my aversion to frilly lettuce due to all the other fresh veggies included, like tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers. My chicken was very well cooked and the salsa mild but flavorful. My friend had a pasta primavera in a cream sauce that she enjoyed well enough. The real highlight of the meal of course was the magical garden setting.
The Garden Café at the Columbia Nursery should be on your dining list for sure, and go ahead and make some reservations with that special someone or head out on your own soon.

What a treat. Dinner in the Garden. Water fountain right next to our table. Menu is has great variety. Salads were fresh and the entrée (steak) was perfect.

The menu is frequently updated based upon what is fresh and available. The chef seems to give lots of thought to flavor combinations, sauces and presentation without being austentacious. This is far and away our favorite food in the area… and oh the bread!

We had dinner here tonight & were very pleased. The owner of the Columbia Gem Motel recommended the dinner. It’s a nursery that the set up a dinner area in the back. The rustic & relaxing ambiance was enhanced by the great acoustic guitar player. Our table had the salmon with magi salsa, chicken with pomegranate sauce & the zucchini stuffed with lamb. Everything was delicious. We had a toddler with us & they we wiling to do half portions. The salads & potato soup were yummy too. If we were in town long enough we’d be back :-)

Traveling through Sonora, we had a lovely lunch of simple, healthy sandwiches here in the back garden — what a beautiful place to sit! The website doesn’t mention the café at all, it’s just a sandwich counter inside the florist, but it’s quite good!