It looks like work is finishing up on the new Sawmill Run Restaurant up in Summerhaven on Mt. Lemmon. The restaurant is going in where the well-known Mount Lemmon Café stood for many years before closing several years ago.
Initial estimates were that Sawmill Run would open last fall, but that date was pushed back for a variety of reasons. The restaurant started hiring a couple of weeks ago, though, so an opening can’t be far off.
The only description we can find of the food is a mention here, where it is described as “Western mountain food.” We’re thinking the place will likely serve hearty American fare that appeals to people visiting the mountain for leisure activities, but we’ll have to wait until it opens to find out.
This article appears in Feb 23-29, 2012.
Whatever they serve, you can be sure it’ll be 30% more than anything comparable downhill in Tucson. And the Iron Door over in Ski Valley likely hasn’t improved any since I walked out 5 years or so back in the face of an awful order and an even worse manager. Bottom line, if you want to assure quality and avoid getting hosed on Mt. Lemmon, make sure to pack your own lunch. Either that or refinance your house…
I disagree with RJF. My wife and I used to go to the Mount Lemmon Inn as well as the old Pie Shop on a monthyl basis. Part of what you pay for is the ambience of being someplace different. (And I would imagine it costs a bit more to get the food and beer to the top of the mountain.) All in all a quick one hour drive and we felt we were in a small village in Colorado. That is worth the extra dollar or two. It is especially wonderful during the summer coolness or the winter snows. Personally I anxiously await the opening of the Sawmill Run.
OMGoodness! U was so looking forward to a nice lunch with my husband and kids!! Went to The Sawmill today! WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!!! tje service could not have Ben any worst!! It was sort of chilli inside the restaurant and only 85 degrees a outside, beautiful compared to 105 degree weather in Tucson. We wanted to change tables and sit outside and the really snooty waitress told me they DO NOT LIKE people moving around the reaturant once the food is ready to come out !!! REALLY!!! She is goo g to tell me where to sit?? Then… To make it even better… We wanted to change our order, my husband and I had order a cup of soup and a chicken salad, the. We realized that just for that it would cost us $40 for both so we ask to change our order to a 2 meats 2 sides dish… It was no more than 5 minutes after we put our first order that we requested the change … After very rudely telling us that we couldnt change seat she told us that our first order had already been made so she was going to have to charge is for both orders otherwise they were going to have to throw it away!!!! I hate throwing food away …. SO WHY didn’t they tell me that’s order was ready to beging with instead of “cooking” both orders and charching me for both, and on top of that ah didn’t even offer to give me the order she was going to throw away!!!’ I should have walked out of the place right there and then!!! Instead we stayed and ate. The waiter didn’t even come to offer more water or anythin … I guess they were mad bc we told them we weren’t paying for two orders. Anyways… The food was the WORST, the portions are tie size of a kid’s meal. The cup of chilli was literally 4 scoops!!! But check this out, it doesn’t end here. I was there with my daughter, her friend, my husband andy four years old. So there were a total of 5 people. The menu indicated they charge you gratuity automatically for a party of 6 or more. Well the check had the gratuity included … And there were just 5 of us… Guess what that counted my 10pmths old baby as a guest!!!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I will NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER VO BACK TO THIS PLACE… Two people told my husband NOT TO GO THERE but we wanted to give it a chance … I wish we listened !!! Oh well live and learn … But if u want to save money and aggravationd … Pack you lunch and have a pic nicup there Instead!!!
This is Mommy3, I apologized for the misspelled words in my prior review. . I am typing this from my smart phone and it is sort of hard to do. I just wanted to type my review as soon as possible. I really dont want anyone else to be treated like we did. We ended up spending $70.00 on a meal that was worth NOTHING! I really don’t think this place is going to make it unless they learn to try to Accomodate their guest in a better way. This is the very first time I have ever posted a review … I don’t like to Give bussiness a bad name bc sometimes it could just be that they were having a bad day… But this was HORRIBLE!!!!!