In SoCal sandwiched between San Bernadino and Los Angeles, if you’re lucky, you’ll stumble upon the Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California. The restaurant serves up old school dishes with modern twists. Think po’ boys made with Italian deli meats and savory tartines topped with delicious options like honey ginger chicken. It offers a sizable seasonal menu with dishes like a harvest salad (made with spring mix, burrata cheese, pepitas, dried cranberries and a balsamic vinaigrette) and a delicious sounding minty lamb burger (topped with arugula, pickled red onion, goat cheese and a mint aioli). Fourth Street Mill also has daily fresh fish and gourmet steak options you can inquire about.

 

Tables and Chairs Set Up in the Patio at Fourth Street Grill in La Verne, California
California Bistro Lights – The Atmospheric Patio at Fourth Street Grill

 

While the seasonal menu was tempting, as soon as we locked eyes on Fourth Street Mill’s “back by popular demand” menu, we were sold. Come to think of it, shouldn’t every restaurant have a back by popular demand menu? (Hint hint nudge nudge, we’re still waiting for those delicious arancinis to pop back on the menu at Centonove.)

 

An Appetizer of Fried Green Beans at Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California
String Me Along – Fried Green Beans at La Verne, California’s Fourth Street Mill

 

At Fourth Street Mill we ordered the fried green beans which came beautifully arranged in a sizable little pot. Lightly battered with a zesty remoulade dipping sauce, the fried green beans were an excellent start to our meal.

 

A Trio of Ahi Kamikaze Tacos Sit on a Plate at Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California
Far From Suicidal – The Ahi Kamikaze Tacos at Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California

 

Next in line were the ahi kamikaze tacos. The trio of ahi tacos at Fourth Street Mill arrived at our table topped with a cabbage slaw, pico de gallo and drizzled with crème fraîche and a healthy dose of Sriracha sauce.

 

A Duck and Asian Slaw Mini Burger at La Verne's Fourth Street Grill
Duck Duck Goose – A Duck and Asian Slaw Mini Burger at La Verne’s Fourth Street Grill

 

Our favorite main dish of the night was the duck and Asian slaw mini burger which was served with a yummy side of fried parsnips. Bigger than a slider, but smaller than a burger that will put you in a food coma for an hour, Fourth Street Mill’s mini burgers are, as Goldilocks might say, just right. The duck and Asian slaw mini burger was perfectly executed just juicy and exotic enough to leave its mark as a dish we’d happily devour again.

Oh, and did we mention the awesome waitstaff at Fourth Street Mill? Our server, Tori, elegantly guided us throughout the evening pointing out the best dishes with her stunning Mexican sugar skull embellished nails. Cheery and bubbly, she helped us adequately plot out our meal. Perhaps most importantly Tori informed us early on that the house made chocolate and peanut butter cheesecake is like, “Reese’s Pieces on crack.” Needless to say, we made sure we saved room for dessert that evening.

 

A Slice of Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake and Two Spoons at Fourth Street Grill in La Verne, California
Death by Chocolate – Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake at Fourth Street Grill in La Verne, California

 

It turns out that Fourth Street Mill’s chocolate peanut butter cheesecake is no joke. The thing is a monster. The chef starts working on it the day before in order to have it ready for service by the following evening. Allegedly, the finished cake weighs about as much as a small, or maybe mid-sized, pooch. Our team of two made it most of the way through our slice, but we decided to pull the plug about three quarters of the way through. If we hadn’t stopped, who knows what kind of The Great Outdoors Uncle Buck type moment may have ensued.

 

A Mural with Bikers, a Gas Station and a Plane by Local Artist Eric M. Davis at Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California
Pretty as a Picture – A Mural by Local Artist Eric M. Davis at Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California

 

Besides having great staff, Fourth Street Mill also has a lovely outdoor patio. There’s a mural of La Verne that local artist Eric M. Davis painted on the side of the building and a pretty rad rock fire pit beckoning in the corner.

If you find yourself near the Los Angeles (LA) County Fair Fairplex,  are meandering your way through downtown La Verne or on the hunt for tasty grub while scouting out the University of La Verne, Fourth Street Mill in Old Town La Verne makes for the perfect foodie pit stop.

 

Front Entrance to Fourth Street Mill Restaurant in La Verne, California
Fourth Street Mill in La Verne, California

 

Fourth Street Mill
2124 Bonita Avenue
La Verne, California
Hours: Monday Through Saturday 11:00am to Close, Sunday 10:00am to Close
Phone: (909) 596-1564
Email: fourthstreetmillinfo@gmail.com
Pricing (All in USD): Starters $9.00 to $14.00, Mini Burgers $7.00 to $11.00, Salads $9.00 to $19.00, Po’ Boys $12.00 to $14.00, Tartines $10.00 to $13.00, Entrees $15.00 to $20.00, Fries $6.00 to $8.00, Dessert $7.00 to $8.00