Prospector - Twain Harte

We always visit this restaurant and love it every time. Tonight, we had the potato gratin and the horseradish schnitzel, and they were absolutely delicious! We're from Texas and make it a point to dine here whenever we're in Sonora!

The food is exceptional! It's meant to be enjoyed family-style, with sharing and laughter—exactly how dining should be experienced! Just leave your wine with Robert, and fully embrace the experience!

When we arrived at The Prospector, the parking lot was empty, which made me worry that the food might not be up to par; however, my son invited me for dinner and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I agreed to give it a try. Upon entering, I found the setup to be quite different from a typical restaurant. The owner, Robert, seemed a little preoccupied at first, but it quickly became clear that he was responsible for all the cooking and preparations, ensuring that every guest enjoyed their meal. I didn’t initially realize that reservations were needed, which my son had made, so we were the first to arrive. Robert welcomed us warmly, and we learned that he has extensive experience in multicultural cuisine. His explanation of the food and confidence in its quality immediately convinced me to try the Caesar salad and two of their pizzas. We were pleasantly surprised and almost ordered a third pizza because it was that good. The crust was not only crunchy but also packed with flavor, and both the sauce and toppings were executed perfectly. I was thrilled to have found such authentic gourmet pizza, which is rare in this area. Now, let’s talk about the atmosphere. While the setting was simple—located in an old cabin—it had a charming vibe with umbrella-covered tables on a large deck near a brick pizza oven and outdoor kitchen, surrounded by lit pine trees. The smoky aroma from the indoor fireplace reminded me of my summers spent at the Russian River as a teenager. The unique ambiance was far better than I had expected for a casual dinner, especially when my son mentioned he was treating me. Robert was the ideal host—friendly and welcoming despite being busy. Since we were the first ones there, he had more time to spend with us. As more guests arrived and the tables filled up, I enjoyed taking my time in such a beautiful environment. It was a wonderful discovery! I’m genuinely baffled by some of the negative reviews I’ve seen; many of the critiques seemed to reflect what I loved about The Prospector—the unique experience it offers compared to the typical dining options. Running a restaurant is an immense undertaking, involving hours of work every day for tasks like sourcing ingredients, preparation, cooking, serving, and cleaning. Sometimes, it’s just not possible to give personalized attention to every guest. I appreciated everything about my experience—the food was phenomenal, and this restaurant stands out as something special, thanks to Robert’s expertise as both the owner and chef. If you go looking for flaws, you may be disappointed. When we arrived, we were greeted by the sound of Frank Sinatra's “My Way” playing softly in the background—an appropriate theme, as Robert truly does things his own way, and it definitely works. He serves the best food in town! Thank you, Robert—I’ll definitely be back!

The most amazing food, I rave about this place to people from San Francisco to London and it has never disappointed. The owner, Robert, is an amazing person although quirky. Go with the flow, pour your own drinks, get your own silverware, share your table, don't take any food to go, and don't show up with more than 6 people and you'll be in for an amazing meal that you will truly appreciate.

We were thrilled to stumble upon The Prospector during a recent trip through Twain Harte. So thrilled, in fact, that we ate there two nights in a row. Go with the flow, and be a good patron—fill your water, grab your utensils and plate, and settle in for some delicious food. The pizza is incredible and we were lucky enough to enjoy the Chef’s choice one evening as well. We plan visit every time we are in the area—the food and conversation can’t be beat!